Mission and values

In the heart of Crush beats something more than just a simple social network; it's a universe woven with ethical values, a philosophy, and a purpose. This document is the journey through the foundations of our vision, from the birth of the idea to the meticulous outline of the creation we are forging.

The origin

The origin of Crush dates back to a seed sown long before its concrete development in 2020 and its launch in 2023. Our vision to merge social networks with Crush's distinctive touch was conceived in 2016, inspired by 'The Social Network', the notable cinematic work recognized by Quentin Tarantino as a gem of the past decade. This film, which tells the story of the young founders of Facebook, particularly its most recognized figure, Mark Zuckerberg — the father of social networks, provided us with an enlightening perspective.

In Crush, we fervently believe that the core of today's social networks resides in platonic love. If you've had the chance to watch this movie, you may have picked up on Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin's criticisms towards dating apps. In a key scene, around the 30:00-minute mark, during the Winklevoss brothers' lawsuit for alleged idea theft, Saverin mentions: "It really hadn't much to do with the Winklevoss' dating site".

It's curious because a few minutes later, around the 36:05-minute mark, we see Mark implementing elements like relationship status and interests in his project: "Relationship status, interests... This is what drives life in college. Are you having sex or aren't you? That's why people take classes, sit where they sit, and do what they do. It's the center, you know? That's what The Facebook is going to be.". Finally, in the final scene, we witness a lovestruck Zuckerberg sending a friend request to his crush.

This movie poses an intriguing question: Are social media platforms actually disguised dating apps?

Our purpose

There is no definitive answer to the question raised in the previous section. Perhaps yes, perhaps no... in the end, it depends on the ethical and cultural values, intentions, and education of the end-user. What we do know for sure is that this opens the door to real and very serious problems that, unlike in the real world, can indeed be solved.

Whether by the standards pre-established by society or the anonymity that leads to inappropriate behavior online, love in the digital realm, whether it's platonic and genuine on social media or more romantic on dating apps, has unfortunately been sexualized in recent years. Why is something so beautiful and fundamental in our lives being distorted in this parallel universe?

Let's be clear and completely transparent. In Spain, our home country, according to verifiable data and statistics, 7 out of 10 minors under the age of 15 have a mobile device. This means that around 70% of minors have unrestricted access to a virtual world where interaction with adults has not been regulated or restricted, exposing them to risks such as harassment, bullying, or pedophilia, among others.

Currently, regardless of the social network you sign up for, it's common to find people selling inappropriate content or sharing any type of unsuitable content. The situation is getting worse as time goes by. We aim to eliminate the sexualization and toxicity of the network by addressing its origin directly.

Crush is proposed as a redefinition of social networks from a different perspective, focusing on platonic relationships. We don't offer a dating system or the creation of romantic/serious relationships, as that contradicts our community guidelines. Instead, we offer what was envisioned in the movie 'The Social Network', but with a solution to the problem and a cool approach.

Our mission goes beyond the typical "share real moments" or "we help you connect". In addition to accompanying the user through the various stages of their life, we are dedicated to solving the aforementioned issues. On our platform, as of the drafting of this document, it is already impossible for a minor to interact with an adult (and vice versa), not only to close the doors to these ethical issues but also to encourage the creation of bonds between people of the same generation, with a similar mindset. We plan to introduce more effective solutions in the next decade of development; that's our promise.