A controversial iPhone app that promised to connect co-opted butterflies to the nearest pandemic party was banned by Apple – but only after a reporter wrote about it on Twitter.
Vybe Together, whose slogan is “Put on your party, give yourself a rebel”, was removed from the iOS App Store this week, reports The Verge.
“Miss playing beer pong, flirting with strangers and, in general, just having fun with the crew?” Vybe is here for you “, it is shown on the application’s website.
The app remained largely under the radar for most of his life, until New York Times reporter Taylor Lorenz wrote about it on Twitter. A day later, the application was gone.
Health experts have warned against large gatherings indoors as deadly coronavirus cases have risen through the winter months.
It’s unclear when the party app was approved by Apple, but with only 25 reviews it seemed relatively new. Apple says it is conducting a thorough review of applications in its store, including “over 500 dedicated experts from around the world.”
Cupertino, California, did not immediately return a request for comment.
Vybe worked by allowing hosts to post about the events they hosted, in which users could then request participation. Assemblies of more than a few people have been illegal in much of the country since the coronavirus began shutting down the United States in March.
Vybe’s Instagram page, which had only 804 followers since Wednesday morning, had an updated description confirming that “the App Store has taken us down !!!” and I swore, “We’ll be back !!”