Scruff (app)
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Screenshot  An example of Scruff Venture | |
| Developer(s) | Perry Street Software, Inc (company) |
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| Initial release | July 23, 2010 |
| Development status | Active |
| Operating system | iOS, Android, Windows Phone |
| Website |
www |
Scruff is an international mobile application for gay and bisexual men that runs on iOS, Android, Windows Phone and Apple Watch.[1]
History
The company was founded in 2010 by Johnny Skandros and Eric Silverberg, now its CEO.[2] Founding partner Jason Marchant is the company's Chief Product Officer.[3] Joey Dubé is the company's Vice President of Marketing, Media, and Events.[4]
In 2013, the app added a community for HIV-positive users called "Poz," and they were the first app to include options for members of the military and transgender community.[5]
In 2014, the company won several mobile app awards including Time Out New York’s Best App Award.[6][7]
In 2014, the company launched BenevolAds, which gives $1 million of free in-app advertising, annually, to LGBTQ community nonprofits, sports teams, public health organizations and community partners.[8][9] The program also works with AIDS organizations, health agencies, and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention to educate users about HIV and other diseases and to encourage testing.[8]
In 2015, the company added a traveler alert feature that notifies users when they reach one of approximately 100 countries where homosexuality is criminalized, sends alerts to members about immediate safety concerns in these regions, and partners with the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), on a web page identifying anti-gay laws in such countries.[2]
In October, 2015, the company launched Scruff Version 5, which added Scruff Venture, new communities, new relationship types, and sex preferences and safety practices.[10]
Operations
Using geolocation, the home interface displays a grid of user profile pictures, arranged from nearest to farthest away. Tapping a picture opens a users’ profile displaying options to chat, send a "woof," save the profile as a Favorite, "Unlock" private photo and video albums, and other shared information from the user.
Features
- Venture: Browse popular travel destinations around the world. See members who are traveling currently or are arriving soon; browse rooms & AirBnBs; RSVP to local events; chat with local ambassadors about where to go and what to do.[11]
- Communities: This portion of the profile allows users the option to list individual Communities they identify with, and which Communities they’re "into."
- Woof: The "Woof" option enables members to express interest by "woofing" at another member as an alternate choice to directly messaging them.[12]
- Stealth Mode: The Stealth Mode feature uses GPS obfuscation to hide a user’s location if a member chooses that option for their privacy or protection.[13]
- Global Search: The Global Search feature allows users to search for other members by Community, city, ZIP code or country.
- Events: Users have the option of exploring Events in their area, and what other users are attending.
- Match: A photo swipe feature for members specifically seeking relationships.[14]
- Insights: Allows users to see statistics based on a certain users’ responsiveness towards other communities within the app.
Users
As of 2015, the app has approximately 8 million users worldwide with Scruff downloads taking place throughout 180 countries and six continents.[2][15] The app has been translated into 14 languages including Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Russian, Chinese, Greek, and Arabic.[3][15]
In popular culture
The company unveiled an ad campaign on a billboard just outside Super Bowl XLIX that read "Play On Our Team" to encourage acceptance of gay professional athletes.[16]
Founder Johnny Skandros and Scruff’s Pit Crew were featured as challenge guests on Season 6 of RuPaul's Drag Race.[17]
Actor Justin Long joked about using the app on Comedy Central’s internet-themed game show @midnight.[18]
See also
References
- ↑ Prevatt, Mike. "For Scruff Founder Johnny Skandros, It Really Did Get Better." Las Vegas Weekly. Sept. 4, 2013
- 1 2 3 McElroy, Steven. ""Gay Dating App’s New Alert: Hooking Up Is Illegal Here." The New York Times. May 22, 2015
- 1 2 "Scruffing It." He Said Magazine. Feb. 13, 2014
- ↑ "Crunchbase - Joey Dube"
- ↑ "Will SCRUFF Be the only App to Be Trans-Inclusive?" Queerty. July 17, 2013
- ↑ Winograd, Jeremy. "The best apps for New York City." TimeOut New York. Nov. 16, 2014
- ↑ "2014 CyberSocket Web Award Winners." Cybersocket
- 1 2 Hemmelgarn, Seth. "AIDS groups, app reps discuss outreach." The Bay Area Reporter. Oct. 30, 2014
- ↑ "Interview: Q & A with SCRUFF's Johnny Skandros." Quorum Columbus Magazine. Dec. 1, 2014
- ↑ "Age, Weight, PrEP Status: Hookup Apps' Next Filtering Option" The Advocate. October 9, 2015
- ↑ McElroy, Steven. "An App for Gay Travelers That Focuses on the Social" The New York Times. October 20, 2015
- ↑ O’Bryan, Will. "Scruff’s Johnny Skandros Brings New Meaning to the Word ‘Woof’" Edge Baltimore. Aug. 22, 2012
- ↑ Silverberg, Eric. "Privacy, Security and GPS-Based Apps: An Inside Look From SCRUFF." The HuffPost Gay Voices. Sept. 10, 2014
- ↑ Lee, Matthew. "The gay dating app SCRUFF hopes to shift focus from hookups to relationships with new feature." Metro. Feb. 12, 2015
- 1 2 "Scruff Invades Houston." The Montrose Star. Feb. 13, 2013
- ↑ "SCRUFF's Super Bowl Billboard Campaign Promotes Acceptance For Gay Athletes." Huffpost Gay Voices. Jan. 30, 2015
- ↑ Davis, Sean. "RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6: NYC Premier Party was Everything." The Quire. Feb. 20, 2014
- ↑ "Justin Long is on Scruff, Anderson Cooper has a Super Creepy Fan, and Other Late Night Tidbits." Queerty