Apple pulled a US app that encouraged users to meet at secret underground rallies during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Vybe Together app, which promoted private parties, was removed from the Apple App Store, the account on TikTok was banned and most of its online presence scrubbed, with the app’s creators telling The Verge that Apple had banned it.
Vybe Together billed itself on TikTok and its website as a place to host and attend mostly illegal parties in violation of social distance laws, with the slogan “Get your rebel on. Set up your party. ”.
‘Do they miss playing beer pong, flirting with strangers and usually just having a great time with the crew? Vybe is there for you, ”the website read.
Users were asked to submit a profile before being allowed to apply, an application process that involved submitting the applicant’s Instagram handle, as well as uploading photos of themselves at the party.
The application allowed people to create private events “no randoms appear” on them. Users could then request invitations to events, hoping the host would find them “interesting” enough to approve them.
Once on the list, guests waited two hours before the event start time for the details of the venue.
One of the co-founders of Vybe Together said the app had a few thousand users and a few thousand additional applicants had requested access since the company started publishing videos on TikTok.
The app’s FAQ page – now removed – acknowledged that Covid-19 was “a major health concern for the country, our communities, our friends and family,” but claimed the app was designed to promote “small gatherings” in instead of “large-scale parties”. ”, Who described it as“ dangerous ”.
“But Vybe is a compromise […] We could live with Vybe at least a little in these times. “
It remains unclear whether the app – which has only a few hundred followers on Instagram – turned on substantially illegal or unsafe gatherings, even though it promoted “ gatherings every weekend. ” in a TikTok video.
The creators of Vybe Together have been contacted for comment. Their Instagram account contains the message: “App Store turned us off !!! We will be back !!”