App That Promotes Secret Parties Amid Pandemic Pulled From Various Platform
Written by SOURCE on December 30, 2020
An iOS app is facing backlash for allegedly promoting large and, in many cases, illegal gatherings in New York City.
The platform, called “Vybe Together,” is a self-described “secret party app” that uses the tagline “Get your rebel on. Get your party on.” Business Insider reports the app was co-founded by Baruch college graduate Alexander Dimcevski in January of this year, months before the pandemic was declared. It was originally called Trendies, but was apparently rebranded sometime in the summer, right before the United States experienced another surge in COVID-19 cases.
Though it was added to the app store about four months ago, Vybe Together has faced increasing backlash over the past week for providing a space in which people could organize, promote, and attend New Year’s Eve celebrations, some of which may have violated NYC’s restrictions on large gatherings.
New York Times reporter Taylor Lorenz shared one of the company’s TikTok videos that included clips of parties and promoted “gatherings every weekend.”
As pointed out by the Verge, Vybe Together was recently pulled from the Apple App Store and its TikTok account was deactivated for violating community guidelines. However, the company took to Instagram on Tuesday to address the growing criticism and deny the allegations: “Blown out of proportion by the media,” the Instagram story read. “We do not condone large gatherings.”
A screenshot of the Frequently Asked Questions section on Vybe’s website, which has since been deleted, was captured by Verge. In the section the company recognizes COVID-19 is a public health issue that can be mitigated by people quarantining. “We are aware that Covid is a major health problem to the country, our communities, our friends and family,” the FAQ section read. “If we all could just be in isolation this could actually go away.”
Complex has reached out for comment.
This story is being updated.
