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Despite more than 82 million cases and more than 1.75 million deaths due to COVID-19, many people are trapped and determined to lead normal lives. For some, this includes attending Saturday night parties, just like they did in the Before Times. Reports of another secret party being broken by law enforcement have become terribly common.
Getting guests to these secret parties is at least a little more difficult now that Apple pulled Vybe Together – an app with a slogan that invited users to “have their party” – from the App Store. The Verge pointed out that the app was practically flying under the radar until a tweet Taylor Lorenz of the New York Times brought an undesirable but much-needed exam to the app. One of Lorenz’s tweets highlighted Vybe Together’s TikTok account, which posted videos of unmasked people partying indoors while announcing New Year’s parties. According to Business Insider, TikTok has since removed the Vybe Together account for violating community guidelines.
Vybe Together’s frequently asked questions at least recognize the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are aware that Covid is a major health problem for the country, our communities, our friends and family. If we could all be isolated, it could really disappear.” So far, so good.
“Having large-scale parties is very dangerous,” continued the FAQ. “That’s why we don’t support that. But Vybe is a deal, with no big parties, but small meetings.”
The problem is that in places like New York, where the app was advertising, the number of people from different families who can safely meet in closed and unmasked environments is zero. The behavior that Vybe Together encouraged is inherently dangerous, both for the participants and for those with whom they live.
A spokesman explained that the app was really made for small meetings. “Vybe Together was [a minimum viable product] designed to help others organize small meetings in parks or apartments during COVID, “the spokesman told The Verge.” We never had big parties and made an exaggerated marketing video that left the wrong impression about our intentions, which have already been withdrawn. We do not tolerate large insecure groups during a pandemic. “
They just tolerate small, insecure parties.