A controversial iPhone app that promised to connect trapped social butterflies to the nearest pandemic party was banned by Apple – but only after a reporter tweeted about it.
Vybe Together, whose slogan is “Get your party on, Get your rebel on,” was removed from the iOS App Store this week, The Verge reports.
‘Do they miss playing beer pong, flirting with strangers and usually just having a great time with the crew? Vybe is there for you, ”says the app’s website.
The app had largely remained under the radar for most of its life until New York Times reporter Taylor Lorenz tweeted about it. A day later the app was gone.
Health experts have warned against large indoor gatherings as cases of the deadly coronavirus have occurred in the winter months.
It’s unclear when the party app was approved by Apple, but with only 25 reviews, it turned out to be relatively new. Apple says it carefully reviews the apps in its store, including “more than 500 dedicated experts around the world.”
The Cupertino, California-based company did not immediately return a request for comment.
Vybe worked by allowing hosts to post about events they hosted for users to sign up for. Gatherings of more than a few people have been illegal in much of the country since the coronavirus first started shutting down the US in March.
Vybe’s Instagram page, which had just 804 followers on Wednesday morning, had an updated description confirming that the “App Store turned us off !!!” and swore that “We’ll be back !!”