Jump to content

Randonautica

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Randonautica
Developer(s)Randonauts LLC
Initial releaseFebruary 22, 2020
Stable release
v. 2.16.4 (Android), v. 15.0.0 (iOS)
Operating systemiOS
Android
Available inEnglish, Spanish, Russian, German, French, Indonesian, Italian, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Turkish
TypeAlternate Reality Game
Websitewww.randonauticaEdit this on Wikidata

Randonautica(aportmanteauof "random" + "nautica") is an app launched on February 22, 2020 founded by Auburn Salcedo and Joshua Lengfelder. It randomly generatescoordinatesthat enable the user to explore their local area and report on their findings. According to its creators, the app is "an attractor of strange things," letting one choose specific coordinates based on a certain theme.[1]It gained controversy after a report of two teenagers coincidentally finding a corpse while using the app.

Overview

[edit]

The app, which creators claim to be inspired bychaos theoryandGuy Debord'sTheory of the Dérive,[2]offers its users three types of coordinates to choose from: an attractor, a void, or an anomaly.[3]The app has a cult following onYouTubeandTikTokand there is asubredditmade by the creators for users of the app.[3]

History

[edit]

29-year-old circus performer Joshua Lengfelder discovered a bot called Fatum Project in afringe sciencechat group onTelegramin January 2019. According toThe New York Times,"He absorbed the project’s theories about how random exploration could break people out of their predetermined realities, and how people could influence random outcomes with their minds." Lengfelder then created a Telegram bot using Fatum Project's code, generating coordinates. He then created thesubredditr/randonauts in March. In October, developer Simon Nishi McCorkindale made the bot's webpage.[4]

With the help of Auburn Salcedo, chief executive of a TV agency, both createdRandonauts LLC.Salcedo became thechief operating officerwhile Lengfelder was theCEO.The app, called Randonautica, was launched on February 22, 2020.[4]Later the same year the app andback-endgot completely overhauled by a new team of developers and got a more visual and friendlier design and logo.

In April 2022 Lengfelder exited Randonauts LLC and Auburn Salcedo becameCEO.

Reception

[edit]

The app has as many as 10.8 million users as of July 2020,[4]gaining popularity amid theCOVID-19 pandemic in the United Statesas restrictions have been lightened.[5]Emma Chamberlainmade aYouTubevideo about the app that helped increase its following.[2]i-Dreported that the hashtag #randonautica has gained 176.5 million views on TikTok,[6]although it has not marketed itself yet.[7]

Controversy

[edit]

"When you’re sending millions of people to random locations and searching the hidden corners of reality, you’re bound to find some pretty shocking stuff sometimes. It’s not the best press, but I’m not really that upset about it, because it’s kind of cool. I kind of wish it was me who found it."

- Joshua Lengfelder, founder of Randonautica, in response to the controversial video.

With the app's popularity users started reporting coincidences which many find unsettling. The majority of reports were fromTikTokandReddit,[8]as well asTelegram.[9]

The most notable controversy involved a group of people heading to a beach inDuwamish Head,Puget Sound,West Seattleper the app, where they found a bag with two dead bodies, a 27-year-old male and a 36-year-old female, as reported by theSeattle Policehomicidedetectives.[10][11]In August 2020 police arrested and charged their landlord, Michael Lee Dudley, in connection with the murders.[12]In March 2021, Dudley was denied bail while other people were under suspicion of aiding Dudley in the dismemberment and disposal of the bodies, but no one else had been charged.[13]This has caused speculation that the app has an intended, puzzle-like theme, however Lengfelder stated that it is "a shocking coincidence."[7]Salcedo called the videos fake, and that "It’s so hard to manage, because people are really taking creative liberties after seeing how much traction the app is getting in that fear factor."[4]In 2022, Michael Dudley was convicted of second degree murder for killing both victims, who were identified as Jessica Lewis and Austin Wenner. He was sentenced to 46 years in prison the following year.[14]

In their questions page, Randonautica's creators have said that if the app generates coordinates inside aprivate property,it is a violation of their terms and conditions to trespass. In addition, Randonautica has also received allegations that the app is used forhuman trafficking,which its creators have denied, saying that data collected by the app are anonymous. It also ensured that the app is not designed to violate religious customs, saying that "the app is simply a tool. Just as a knife can be used either to prepare dinner or to cut somebody."[15]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"The App of the Summer Is Just a Random-Number Generator".The Atlantic.July 21, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on July 28, 2020.RetrievedAugust 2,2020.
  2. ^ab"How Does Randonautica Work? The Creepy, TikTok Famous App Can Help You Realize Intentions".Bustle.Archivedfrom the original on July 11, 2020.RetrievedAugust 2,2020.
  3. ^ab"Randonautica explained: what it is and how to use it".Pocket Tactics.Archivedfrom the original on August 12, 2020.RetrievedAugust 2,2020.
  4. ^abcdWilson, Lena (July 31, 2020)."What Is Randonautica Really About?".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Archivedfrom the original on August 29, 2020.RetrievedSeptember 9,2020.
  5. ^"Teens Find Body in Suitcase on Beach While Using Random Geographic Explorer App".Inside Edition.June 22, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on July 27, 2020.RetrievedAugust 2,2020.
  6. ^Schofield, Daisy (July 1, 2020)."Randonauting: The random coordinates app leading TikTok users to dead bodies".i-D.Archivedfrom the original on July 3, 2020.RetrievedAugust 2,2020.
  7. ^abLampen, Claire (July 2, 2020)."A Mystical, TikTok-Famous App Led Teens to a Dead Body".The Cut.Archivedfrom the original on August 8, 2020.RetrievedAugust 2,2020.
  8. ^Emanuel, Daniella (July 2020)."19 Really Freaky Coincidences People Have Experienced While Using Randonautica".BuzzFeed.Archivedfrom the original on July 1, 2020.RetrievedAugust 2,2020.
  9. ^"Рандонавтинг // Randonautica".Telegram.RetrievedAugust 1,2021.
  10. ^Tiffany, Kaitlyn (July 21, 2020)."The App of the Summer Is Just a Random-Number Generator".The Atlantic.Archivedfrom the original on July 28, 2020.RetrievedAugust 2,2020.
  11. ^"Detectives Investigating After Human Remains Found in West Seattle".spdblotter.seattle.gov.Archivedfrom the original on August 1, 2020.RetrievedAugust 2,2020.
  12. ^"Michael Lee Dudley charged with two counts of murder in the second degree | Westside Seattle".westsideseattle.Archivedfrom the original on June 29, 2021.RetrievedJuly 15,2021.
  13. ^"Double murder suspect Michael Dudley denied bail reduction in court hearing | Westside Seattle".westsideseattle.Archivedfrom the original on March 3, 2021.RetrievedJuly 15,2021.
  14. ^"Burien landlord sentenced to over 46 years in prison for killing, dismembering tenants".KING-TV. April 7, 2023.RetrievedDecember 5,2024.
  15. ^"Got Questions?".randonautica.Archivedfrom the original on October 28, 2020.RetrievedOctober 27,2020.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Randonautica&oldid=1261371538"