Move Over, Facebook: ‘Yerisoh’ Gains Thousands of Users in Days

Forget Facebook and TikTok for a moment. Belizeans are rallying behind a new social media platform made right here at home. Yerisoh gives users a space to share their humor, music, food and everyday experiences in Kriol. Just days after its launch, the app has attracted thousands of users and sparked a wave of national pride. We explore its growing popularity and hear from creator David Godinez.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

“You hya bout this yet?  Yerisoh is the new app you can’t stop hearing about and believe it or not, it’s all in Kriol. It says Yerisoh, di social app fi Belize. Sign in fi yer weh di gwan.”

 

In less than forty-eight hours, the app has already attracted more than three thousand users. Prime Minister John Briceño is now among the thousands of Belizeans joining Yerisoh. But behind the app’s rapid rise is thirty-three-year-old David Godinez, a self-taught, homegrown developer who combined his love for technology and Belizean culture to create a platform that is capturing national attention.

 

David Godinez, App Developer

“For Yerisoh, as I mi di think bout my Belizean people, I said it would be cool for just have, like, a local, have our own sliver of the internet, you know? Me and my friend, we call it Belize distilled having our own section fi mek we show off who we are. I think my Belizean people, da di most beautiful people, and so, I just may want build something for make we could showcase that through music, food, all the jokes.”

 

The app’s interface is like that of X or Threads but prompts user to make a “yeri”, share recipes, and explore music. Signing up, just takes a few clicks.

 

Britney Gordon

“Tell Belize who you’ll be. There we go, I officially have an account.”

 

Godinez says the support has been overwhelming as he witnesses the outpouring of encouragement from his community.

 

David Godinez

“My Belizean people just show up and show out, and the platform. So cool. Like I find myself just di scroll just to laugh and to like repost things. And, honestly, even di think about it now, like I get cool to see that just how just the overwhelming support from, you know, from everybody.”

 

Yerisoh is not only gaining ground in Belize. It is also climbing the app store rankings in the United States as Belizeans abroad join the platform. Godinez shares his reaction to that growing international reach and tells us what went through his mind when Prime Minister John Briceño signed up.

 

David Godinez

“Truly an honor. Obviously have the utmost respect for the highest office in the land and, hopefully  I would love for be able for work with with the government and not, you know, make it a political platform per se, but just allow the PM and other members of the cabinet to have a direct line to the people, right? I think having a dialogue is so important.”

 

The app is available for download on iOS and Android. Godinez encourages all Belizeans to keep supporting it as he works to improve its services. Britney Gordon for News Five.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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