YUBO
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MINIMUM AGE: 18+
WHAT IS IT? Yubo is a social discovery and livestreaming app designed to help users meet new people, chat, and join live video streams. While it includes safety tools such as age estimation, moderation technology, and reporting features, the app still connects users with strangers in real time, which can create risks for young people. WHAT WE SAY: Avoid. 🔞 Adult Social Platform Yubo is designed as an 18+ social discovery app where users meet new people, chat, and join livestreams. Even with age checks, young people may attempt to bypass restrictions or interact with adults, which can create safeguarding concerns. 📹 Livestreaming Risks Real-time video features mean users can interact instantly with strangers. Although moderation exists, live content is unpredictable and may expose users to inappropriate behaviour, harassment, or pressure to share personal information. 💬 Contact With Strangers The app is built around meeting new people through swipes, chats, and Lives. This increases the risk of unwanted contact, inappropriate conversations, or interactions with people who may not be who they claim to be. 🧠 Risky Behaviour in Private Messages While messages are monitored by AI for harmful language, private conversations can still involve grooming attempts, harassment, or pressure to share personal details or images. 📍 Location Sharing Concerns Yubo can show location information (such as country or approximate area), which may make it easier for others to identify where a user is based, especially if combined with other personal details. 🪪 False Profiles and Misrepresentation Although the platform uses age estimation and verification tools, no system is perfect. Fake accounts or users misrepresenting their age or identity can still appear. 🚨 Exposure to Inappropriate Content Users may encounter discussions or behaviour related to sexual content, substance use, or harmful topics despite moderation efforts. ⚖️ Pressure and Social Validation Features like swiping, livestream audiences, and profile visibility can create pressure to seek approval, which may affect self-esteem or encourage risky sharing to gain attention. 🕒 Intense Social Use Because Yubo focuses on real-time interaction, it can encourage prolonged use, late-night engagement, and constant checking, which may impact sleep and wellbeing. 🛡️ Reliance on User Reporting Although there is a Trust and Safety team, many issues rely on users reporting concerns. Harmful interactions may still occur before moderation steps in. |
SAFETY TIPS: Visit Yubo Safety Hub here. 📲 Understand the App - Familiarise yourself with Yubo’s features such as swiping to meet new people, livestreaming, chats, and profile settings. Understanding how the app works will help you guide your child and spot potential risks early. 📢 Underage Accounts - Although Yubo is designed as an 18+ platform and uses age-estimation tools, no system is perfect. Some users may attempt to bypass checks or misrepresent their age, meaning young people could still interact with adults or fake profiles. 👥 Managing Connections - Encourage your child to only interact with people they know and trust in real life. Remind them that people they meet through swiping, Lives, or chats are still strangers, even if profiles seem genuine. 📷 Camera & Livestream Safety - Talk to your child about being mindful of what’s visible when using the camera or joining livestreams. Background details or personal items can reveal location clues or private information. 🧠 Trusting Their Instincts - Reassure your child that if something feels uncomfortable during a chat or Live, they should leave immediately, block the user, and tell a trusted adult. 🖥️ Keeping Devices in Shared Spaces - Where possible, encourage use of devices in shared areas rather than bedrooms. This can help reduce risky interactions and supports natural supervision. 🚨 Recognising Warning Signs - Look out for changes such as secrecy, anxiety after using the app, sudden new “online friends,” or reluctance to talk about their online activity, which may signal a negative experience. 💬 Keeping Communication Open - Have regular conversations about online safety, including topics like talking to strangers, pressure to share personal information, bullying, grooming, and how to report concerns. Creating a supportive environment helps children feel comfortable asking for help. FURTHER SUPPORT: For parents/ carers If you're worried about your child or need support call NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. If you see suspected child sexual abuse content online, report it to the police or the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), which helps remove illegal images from the internet. If you’re worried about online sexual exploitation or abuse, you can make a report to Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP) - a UK law enforcement team dedicated to protecting children and young people online. For Children & young people if they're worried or want to talk, encourage them to contact Childline Online or call 0800 1111. Check out our Factsheets for further information and useful online safety tips. 
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