6 Reasons Why the LIVR App Is Too Good To Be True

An app unveiled at this year's SXSW turned out to be a hoax intended to fool the media.

The parody app LIVR, named after the organ it will destroy while you use it, was billed as a social network that allows drunk people to meet other drunk people. Brandon Bloch, one of the creators behind the fake app, said the inspiration came to him while attending last year's Consumer Electronics Show.

"I was walking the tradeshow floor and saw apps that I thought were fake, but everybody thought they were real," Bloch told Gizmodo. "I actually couldn't tell if they were fake or real, and I wasn't sure if it mattered because everybody was so into the hype of it."

News sites and tech blogs around the web picked up the story as fact. But the Gizmodo report notes that there are a number of outlets who maintained a healthy dose of skepticism. Here are six reasons why LIVR was too good to be true:

A $5 Breathalyzer

To access the app, you're required to blow into a breathalyzer that plugs into the charging port of a phone and it will read your blood alcohol content (BAC). Once you meet the minimum BAC, you are good to go. However, $5 for a breathalyzer is too good of a deal. iOS breathalyzers attachments exist, but cost much more than $5. Breathalyzers are difficult and expensive to produce, Gizmodo notes.

Truth or Dare Game
This is a crowdsourced version of truth or dare, where you can post ideas for the game and dare people to accomplish a task. The more you participate in certain tasks, the more points are stacked up.

Drunk Dial™
With this feature, you can explore the opportunity of not having to accidentally drunk dial people in your personal address book. Drunk Dial™ will randomly connect two inebriated people, even if they are strangers.

Hot Spots
Hot spots show you the nearest bars and clubs in your area. The larger spots show busier venues based on how many people are using LIVR. Each spot on the map is color coded based on how intoxicated the users are. The darker the circle, the more alcohol has been consumed by people.

Blackout Button
The revolutionary idea of the Blackout Button is just too good to be true. This feature is designed to be used as the night comes to an end. Pushing this button will erase evidence of your misdeeds, meaning it will wipe out call history, photos and more.

Morning After Report
Alternatively, a "Morning After" report can be sent to other users so you can proudly show off your antics from the night before.

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