Fake app sheds light on domestic violence issues

A smartphone app publicized as the "Tinder for fighting" turned out to be not as controversial as anticipated. The campaign to get Rumblr started was pushed all over the Internet and social media.

News 12 Staff

Nov 10, 2015, 9:17 AM

Updated 3,224 days ago

Share:

A smartphone app publicized as the "Tinder for fighting" turned out to be not as controversial as anticipated.
The campaign to get Rumblr started was pushed all over the Internet and social media. The premise caused a lot of outrage as the app was touted as a way for people who wanted to fight one another to meet up.
The developers explained that you could post a photo, choose someone to fight, trash talk and then pick a place to meet to fight.
Before the site went live, News 12 New Jersey spoke with some people who fight for a living to get their take on the concept.
"My gut feeling was that this was a bad idea," says Chris Ulbricht, who runs the Garden State Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy in Red Bank.
Matt Strobel, an instructor at the academy, feared that if the app was real, it would target children. "Someone will get really hurt," he says.
Rumblr went live Monday. When people tried to sign up, the real purpose became clear. After registering with the app, visitors were taken to another webpage ran by the developers admitting the site was fake. 
Instead, the developers wish to shed some light on domestic abuse and youth violence. "If you still are truly wishing to release some built-up angst, consider fighting more pressing issues such as gang violence, domestic abuse, and at-risk youth culture," a message on the site said.
The site then also provided links to help those suffering from domestic violence.