Everything Parents Need to Know About Yubo
Yubo (formerly known as Yellow) is a social networking platform that once had a large teen user base. In earlier years, it was often described as “Tinder for Teens” because many young people used it to meet new friends, chat, and livestream. However, Yubo has since undergone a major transition: the platform is now strictly 18+ and uses enhanced age-verification technology to keep minors off the app.
This change means that Yubo is no longer positioned as a teen-focused social space, and the earlier two-community structure (13–17 and 18+) has been completely removed. Still, parents may hear their children talk about Yubo, may come across adults in their family who use the app, or may want to understand how an 18+ social-discovery platform functions in today’s digital world. This updated guide helps parents make sense of what Yubo is today, why adults use it, and what children may indirectly encounter because of others’ use.
Some of the features that Yubo offers include:
Yubo’s current features are geared toward adults who want to meet new people and socialize online:
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Livestreaming: Users can join or host live video rooms with strangers or friends.
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Interest-based tags: People list hobbies or interests to find like-minded adults.
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Multiple gender identities and pronouns.
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Digital collectibles (Pixels): Users can purchase digital art.
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Virtual currency (YuBucks).
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Age Verification: Yubo now relies on real-time photo-based age estimation and checks images online to ensure they are not taken from elsewhere. Verified accounts receive a yellow badge.
Unlike earlier years, Yubo no longer allows minor accounts and does not operate as a teen discovery app.
However,
Even though children cannot join Yubo, they may still:
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See adults using the app in shared spaces at home.
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Hear about Yubo from older siblings, cousins, or peers.
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Come across Yubo content on TikTok, YouTube, or other platforms.
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Be contacted by adults who met someone on Yubo and migrated conversations elsewhere.
Understanding how Yubo works can help parents support their children if questions or safety concerns arise.
Potential risks
Yubo, in its earlier avatar, received mixed feedback from users and parents/caregivers. The most frequently heard positive feedback is that the app helps make new friends from all over the world. This was perhaps most heard during the pandemic and its related lockdowns, during which many people, especially youngsters, resorted to online mediums to socialize. Much of the review, especially from parents and caregivers of children and adolescents has been critical of the app.
A parent shared their child’s experience on Common Sense Media’s review of Yubo:
“My 14 yr old adopted daughter who suffers from PTSD met other mentally ill kids on this website. Now she is suffering new mental health symptoms and has had suicidal episodes. It’s not safe. you don’t know who your child is dealing with, how old they really are or their mental health profile.”
Stranger danger was also a concern. This is a danger with all social media sites that teenagers frequent. Teens are often contacted online by strangers and bullying is quite common. It has been shown that in general, nearly a third (32%) of online teenagers are contacted online by someone who was a stranger and who had no connection to any of their friends. Pew Research shows that 21% of contacted teens respond to the stranger while only 3% tell an adult about it. Another parent shared on Common Sense Media’s review of Yubo app:
“This is essentially a dating app for kids. My 13-year-old daughter was able to contact older men who were asking her for her phone number and explicit pictures. Never let your child use this app!”
Now, because Yubo is now an adults-only environment, the risks parents need to know about relate to indirect exposure, not direct use by minors.
Exposure to Adult Conversations or Content
If an adult in the home uses Yubo in shared spaces, children may overhear mature conversations or see glimpses of livestreams meant only for adults.
Online Migration of Conversations
In some cases, adults who meet on Yubo may continue chatting on other platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, or WhatsApp. Children who have access to these apps may stumble upon messages or friend requests from adults they do not know.
Livestream Discovery on Other Platforms
Clips from Yubo livestreams sometimes circulate on TikTok or other social media. Children may see snippets of adult content outside the app.
Curiosity and “App Imitation”
When children see older siblings or adults socializing through apps like Yubo, they may try to find similar platforms designed for younger users—some of which may be unsafe.
Like many livestream-based social apps, risks such as bullying, harassment, or exposure to inappropriate content may still occur because livestreams are difficult to moderate in real time. Even with strengthened age-verification tools, no system is perfect, and the possibility of misleading profiles remains. Location information is limited to the city level, but even this can be sensitive if children see adults around them sharing more than they intend to. Inappropriate content, trolling, and hate speech can surface before moderation systems intervene, and children who witness adults engaging with such content may become desensitized or confused about online boundaries. Finally, the compulsive nature of livestreaming and swipe-based social apps can lead to excessive screen time for adults as well, which may indirectly affect children—whether through reduced attention, modeling of unhealthy tech use, or exposure to addictive digital habits.
How Parents Can Use This as a Teaching Moment
Even though Yubo is 18+, the digital behaviours children see around them influence their own online habits. Parents can use Yubo as an example to teach broader safety principles:
Explain the difference between adult and child spaces online
Children should understand that some online platforms are designed only for adults, and that age restrictions exist for their safety.
Talk openly about livestreaming safety
Livestreaming carries real-time risks like bullying, pressure to perform, inappropriate content, and lack of control over the audience.
Reinforce the importance of reporting strangers
If a child receives an unexpected message on another app from someone they don’t know—even if linked indirectly to Yubo—they should report it and inform a caregiver immediately.
Model healthy online behavior
If adults in the home use Yubo or similar apps, they can choose to do so responsibly—privately, with headphones, and without exposing children to adult content.
Use tools like Mobicip to supervise your child’s digital ecosystem
While Yubo itself is 18+, Mobicip can help protect children on the apps they use by:
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Managing screen time
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Filtering inappropriate content
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Blocking unsafe apps
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Monitoring online activity
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Promoting healthier digital habits
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Catching them young must be the watchword for setting up rules and guidelines for youngsters getting on social media sites like Yubo, Snapchat and Omegle. It is easier to inculcate good habits and behavior in young, impressionable children than in teenagers. Training them well when young can propel the teenager with the pedal power of childhood learning. Most importantly, be the change you wish to see in your child. The above rules and guidelines are not just for teenagers. Social media hygiene is essential to everyone in it. Children learn from their parents and the other adults in their lives to a certain extent. Lead by example, and as for the rest, let us at Mobicip, help you with managing your child’s online activity.
