Rave - App Safety Warning | SafeScreens

What Is Rave?

Rave is a "watch party" app that lets multiple people watch the same video content together while chatting. Think of it as watching Netflix with friends who aren't physically present.

No Longer on iPhone

Apple removed Rave from the App Store in August 2025 and blocked it on Apple devices. Apple says the removal followed repeated guideline violations, including pornographic and pirated content and complaints about child sexual abuse material; Rave calls the allegations baseless and filed antitrust lawsuits against Apple in May 2026. Rave remains available on Android and Windows. Copies installed on an iPhone before the removal may still be there, so seeing Rave on an iPhone doesn't mean it was downloaded recently.

The Public Room Problem

While Rave can be used safely with friends, it also has public rooms where:

Anyone can join
Strangers chat during videos
Voice chat may be enabled
Moderation is thin

Content Concerns

Rave connects to streaming services and YouTube, meaning users can watch:

Any YouTube video, regardless of age-appropriateness
Netflix content (mature shows/movies)
Other streaming content
Content that wouldn't pass parental controls on individual services

Stranger Contact

The social element means:

Strangers can comment in real time
Users can become "friends" with people they've never met
Chat can include inappropriate content
Some rooms have voice chat with strangers

Safe vs. Unsafe Use

Potentially Safe

Private rooms with known real-life friends only
Age-appropriate content
No strangers involved

Unsafe

Joining public rooms
Chatting with strangers
Voice chat with unknown users
Watching mature content

What To Do

Set clear rules - Private rooms with known friends only
No public rooms - The stranger element makes these risky
Check in on content - What are they watching?
Check friends list - Do you know these people?
Consider alternatives - On Apple devices, SharePlay in FaceTime lets known friends watch together