YouVersion
{{short description|Technology ministry of Life.Church known for the Bible App}}
{{use mdy dates|date=July 2013}}
{{use American English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox website
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| url = {{URL|http://www.youversion.com/}}
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| registration = Optional
| language = English, Spanish and at least 65 languages for the interface , Bible content in 2243 languages
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| owner = Life.Church
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| launch_date = {{start date and age|2007}}
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| name = YouVersion
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YouVersion (also known as Bible.com or the Bible App) is an online and mobile Bible platform published for [https://www.bible.com/ web] Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and many other operating platforms.
In 2023, according to YouVersion, its Bible App features over 3,000 Bible versions in over 2,000 languages,{{cite web |date=September 13, 2023 |title=Find your favorite Bible version with over 3,000 versions in the Bible App! |url=https://blog.youversion.com/2023/09/find-your-favorite-bible-version-with-over-3000-versions-in-the-bible-app/ |access-date=October 11, 2023 |website=YouVersion Blog}} audio Bibles, offline capabilities, as well as over 800 Bible plans and devotionals.
History
YouVersion was founded as a website in 2007{{Cite web |date=2007-06-25 |title=YouVersion: The Bible meets Web 2.0 |url=https://blog.youversion.com/2007/06/youversion-the-bible-meets-web-20/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309105513/https://blog.youversion.com/2007/06/youversion-the-bible-meets-web-20/ |archive-date=March 9, 2011 |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=YouVersion}} and one of the first phone apps in 2008 by Bobby Gruenewald and Life.Church.Bill Sherman, [http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/religion/lifechurch-tv-s-bible-app-attracts-millions-of-users/article_f16b0a3f-2599-5eac-9a25-b0ffec1d1adb.html Lifechurch.tv's Bible app attracts millions of users], tulsaworld.com, USA, January 4, 2011Katherine T. Phan, [http://www.christianpost.com/news/youversion-bible-app-creator-makes-100-mostcreative-people-list-50712/ YouVersion Bible App Creator Makes 100 Most Creative People List], christianpost.com, May 31, 2011Amy O'Leary, [https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/27/technology/the-faithful-embrace-youversion-a-bible-app.html In the Beginning Was the Word; Now the Word Is on an App], USA, nytimes.com, July 26, 2013 Since at least 2012, it has been sponsored by David Green, the billionaire founder and owner of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.{{cite web | last1=Solomon | first1=Brian | title=Meet David Green: Hobby Lobby's Biblical Billionaire | website=Forbes | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/briansolomon/2012/09/18/david-green-the-biblical-billionaire-backing-the-evangelical-movement/ | access-date=23 December 2019 | date=8 October 2012}} In April 2014, YouVersion released version 5 of the Bible App, which added features for community engagement and scripture discussion.Alex Murashako, [http://www.christianpost.com/news/bible-app-5-shows-youversion-still-on-track-to-engage-the-world-in-scripture-118434/ Bible App 5 Shows YouVersion Still on Track to Engage the World in Scripture], christianpost.com, USA, April 23, 2014Suzanne Arpin, [http://www.charismanews.com/us/43503-youversion-upgrades-bible-app-to-build-community YouVersion Upgrades Bible App to Build Community], charismanews.com, USA, April 14, 2014 In April 2016, The Bible App became available on the Apple Watch{{cite web|last1=Klett|first1=Leah|title=YouVersion to Release Updated Version of Bible App for Apple Watch|url=http://www.gospelherald.com/articles/55099/20150410/youversion-release-updated-version-bible-app-apple-watch.htm|website=gospelherald.com|access-date=25 November 2015|date=10 April 2015}} allowing users to read the Verse of the Day, view trending verses, and access their own Verse Images, Bookmarks, and Highlights.{{Cite web|url=http://blog.youversion.com/2015/04/youversion-bible-app-now-available-for-apple-watch/|title=Now Available: The Bible App for Apple Watch {{!}} YouVersion|website=blog.youversion.com|date=April 24, 2015|access-date=2016-08-09}} By April 2017, YouVersion had been downloaded over 268 million times and offered 1492 versions of the Bible in 1074 languages.Jean Hopfensperger, [http://www.startribune.com/god-on-the-go-bible-apps-offer-mobile-inspiration/422176423/ God on the go: Bible apps offer mobile inspiration], startribune.com, USA, May 13, 2017 In March 2017, YouVersion launched a service using Google Assistant on Google Home devices, enabling users to request Bible verses based on their moods and emotions.{{Cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/04/01/google-assistant-can-now-read-bible-passages-to-fit-your-mood/|title=Google Assistant can now read Bible passages to fit your mood|date=2017-04-01|website=VentureBeat|access-date=2017-04-02}} In November 2021, YouVersion reached 500 million downloads.[https://religionnews.com/2021/11/19/gutenberg-meet-gruenewald-app-builders-youversion-puts-bible-in-half-billion-phones/ Gutenberg, meet Gruenewald. App builder’s YouVersion puts Bible in half-billion phones.] (Religious News Service, 11/19/2021)
Criticism
YouVersion has been accused of over-collecting data from its users since 2013. As recently as 2019, the Android version of the app was requiring access to all the user's contact information (their address book) as well as the user's GPS location.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/why-so-many-android-christian-apps-have-unholy-privacy-policies/|title = Christian Mingle and more religious Android apps with downright sinful privacy policies}}{{Cite news |last=Bogle |first=Ariel |date=2013-07-29 |title=Even This Bible App Collects Massive Amounts of User Data |url=https://slate.com/technology/2013/07/youversion-from-lifechurch-tv-bible-app-collects-loads-of-user-data.html |access-date=2024-02-08 |work=Slate |language=en-US |issn=1091-2339}} YouVersion has updated their privacy policies as of April 2, 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bible.com/privacy|title=YouVersion Privacy Policy | The Bible App | Bible.com|website=www.bible.com}}
References
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External links
- {{Official website|http://www.youversion.com/}}
Category:Bible versions and translations
Category:Online Scripture Search Engine
Category:Android (operating system) software