We take seriously our responsibility to make Yubo as safe as possible, and we have put safety at the core of every decision since our launch to fulfill that responsibility. As the online landscape continues to change, we, too, are constantly evolving and upgrading our practices and systems to ensure safety is built in by design.

The devastating events of 24 May in Uvalde, Texas, brought to light systemic issues in society that need to be addressed. We are dedicated to doing our part by identifying and implementing safety solutions to the Yubo platform. In the days since, we have been working to accelerate safety developments in our pipeline and further expand the scope of existing safeguards across our platform. We have made meaningful changes to Yubo during this time and will continue to roll out additional developments in the weeks ahead as part of our continuing commitment to safety innovation in social media. 

The following enhancements have been expedited to supplement our existing safety practices and provide greater support for our users:

Updated risk-detection policy
Yubo has broadened its policy to review content and act on infractions based on more stringent laws and regulations around sexual behavior and harassment; hate speech; weapons; violence; drugs; and animal abuse, among other risks. Previously, our response to content related to these risk areas was determined by corresponding laws in the region where the content was posted. We feel it is in all users’ best interest that we apply more severe standards to content review and intervention across the board.



Enhanced user-reporting capabilities
This summer, Yubo users worldwide will be able to attach up to four media files, such as screenshots or video recordings, to any reports they submit, thereby providing greater context to Yubo team members tasked with reviewing reports and taking action accordingly. Yubo is committed to ensuring that every user has sufficient agency to acknowledge how they are feeling, and if uncomfortable, take steps to voice their concerns. User feedback is essential to our mission to continually improve the safety of our platform. 



Audio-moderation technology 
Roughly half of people who have reported experiencing harassment in online gaming, where live streaming has historically been most prevalent, were targeted by voice, according to a report by the Anti-Defamation League. Yet innovations in audio moderation have struggled to keep pace with advances in real-time image and video moderation. On Tuesday, 31 May, Yubo became one of the first social media companies in the world to deploy audio-moderation technology, supplementing our existing capabilities to allow for comprehensive automatic moderation across the platform. Developed in partnership with Hive, the technology is being tested in beta for English-speaking users with the goal of expanding to additional languages. 



 Combined-signals risk detection algorithm 
On Tuesday, 31 May, Yubo deployed a new algorithm-based detection system, which we have been developing for over six months. The algorithm aggregates and assesses a combination of signals – keywords, emojis, and images, for example – to evaluate content with context. This bolsters our other safety detection tools, which scan for individual signals of infractions or risk, and provides enriched context to our emergency escalation team.

As a leading social platform for teens and young adults, we are committed to prioritizing the safety of our users. As such, Yubo is guided by a safety advisory board of respected thought leaders from organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and Thorn, as well as partner organizations in government, law enforcement, NGOs, and charities. We are thankful for their support as we continue to develop and improve the Yubo platform for our users.

We remain shocked and deeply saddened by this recent tragedy. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all who have been impacted.

At Yubo, we take seriously our responsibility to make Yubo as safe as possible, and we have put safety at the core of every decision since our launch to fulfill that responsibility. As the online landscape continues to change, we, too, are constantly evolving and upgrading our practices and systems to ensure safety is built in by design. We have made meaningful changes to Yubo and will continue to roll out additional developments as part of our continuing commitment to safety innovation in social media.

A letter from our CEO on new safety policies and features on Yubo

A Letter From Our CEO on New Safety Policies and Features on Yubo

What's this new feature on Yubo all about? 

In May 2022, Yubo introduced a new age verification feature to help keep all of our users safe while on the app. If you are a Yubo user, here’s what you need to know! 

You might have received a new pop-up either while using the app or while creating an account on Yubo. Far from being mysterious, this pop-up is simply the launch of Yubo's new age verification system – and this time it’s an easy and simple process, without any need for an ID card, documentation or other form of proof. 

Why is Yubo introducing this new feature?

Online age verification allows platforms to confirm age and identity of users over the internet. Yubo’s main purpose for introducing this new verification feature is to help continue to keep everyone on Yubo safe. By confirming our users’ ages, we can ensure that everyone is the age they say when they are interacting with each other on the app. This will help prevent people who intend to lie about who they are or create false profiles. It also allows users on Yubo to be confident they are interacting with others in their similar age group, just as they would in real life. 

What is Yubo's new age verification system? 

Yubo’s age verification system was developed in collaboration with Yoti, who has been our trusted partner since 2019 in helping to verify the identities of suspicious user accounts on Yubo. Yoti and Yubo are now adding this new safety feature to the mix to provide another step in age verification for all our users. It will serve as an initial filter when entering the app helping to ensure users are the age they claim to be.

How does Yubo's age verification system work?

This new age verification process is intentionally very easy and simple. In fact, all it requires is a real-time photo that you, as a user, will take within the app. Yoti’s age estimation technology will then analyze your photo and estimate your age. It also uses a special liveness algorithm that takes a short video to detect that it is a real photo and not a screenshot or image pulled from Google. Once your age is delivered and it matches the age on your profile, you are verified and can access the app. However, if your age doesn’t match, you will need to go through an additional verification process. 

Yubo How To Verify Your Age

Why was I asked to verify my age and not another user I know? 

The age verification feature has been launched in beta stage for users ages 13 and 14, but will begin rolling out to the rest of users with the goal of age verifying everyone on Yubo by the end of 2022. 

Protecting your data is particularly important to us when creating any feature on the app, and our new age verification system is no exception. Thanks to this new system, no identification documents or personal information will be required and instead you will only need to take a real-time photo of yourself within the Yubo app, which will then be processed by Yoti's age estimation technology. At Yubo, our ultimate goal is to make age verification accessible while guaranteeing the protection of our users' data. We are proud to be the first major social media platform who will have age verified all of its users! 

You can check out our step-by-step guide below or watch this video to learn more about how this new verification feature works. 

 When you receive the initial pop-up, you will first be directed to verify your age and agree to the terms of the verification. 

Once you accept, your camera will activate, and you will be prompted to place your face within an oval that appears on the screen. 

Once your photo is taken, Yoti’s age estimation technology will analyze the photo. You will be notified that your age is verified, that your age doesn’t match or that you are not using a legitimate picture. 

If your age is verified, you will be brought to the Yubo homepage. If your verification fails, you will not be able to access the app and will need to provide additional ID documentation to verify your age.

And that’s all it takes! It’s as easy as that. If you have questions, you can always reach out to Yubo Support or check out our online Safety Hub to learn more about what we do to keep Yubo a safe place for everyone.

Yubo, the social live-streaming app for Gen Z implements an industry-leading age verification feature in partnership with Yoti. Yubo will become the first major social media app to institute a wide age verification process across its platform. Yubo’s goal is to age-verify 100% of all users on the platform by the end of 2022.

Yubo’s new age verification feature helps keep you safe

Yubo’s New Age Verification Feature Helps Keep You Safe

At Yubo, we stand in solidarity with Ukraine and all of the Ukrainian people in the wake of the current military invasion. Our hearts go out to those who are suffering as a result of the ongoing violence and who have been displaced from their homes. As a European company, we feel deeply affected by this war on our home continent. We are committed to supporting our employees whose families have been impacted by this devastating crisis, and have pledged to donate to essential on-the-ground relief efforts by organizations such as UNICEF, World Food Program, Direct Relief, International Rescue Committee among others to help deliver urgent supplies and services. We are donating to make a difference and will continue to follow the news closely to determine other ways in which we can show our support.  

On February 24, Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, ordered an invasion of its neighboring country Ukraine in protest of Ukraine’s moves towards joining the European Union and NATO (an international military alliance). Within the first day of the attack, hundreds of thousands of Ukranains fled their homes and tried to seek refuge across borders in countries such as Poland, Hungary and Romania. That number has now reached nearly over 1 million, and the EU believes that figure could quickly climb to 7 million. The Ukrainian people are living through terrifying times as bombs and air missiles rain down on them and they seek cover in bomb shelters left over from the Cold War. With millions displaced from their homes and left in freezing temperatures without food, water, shelter, medical supplies and other essential services, Ukraine is facing one of Europe’s worst humanitarian crises in decades. To learn more about the conflict and what’s happening, you can read about it here. 

Stay informed: Follow journalists, media sources and aid organizations who are on the ground to stay up to date on the current situation and how to help – and be cautious of misinformation by unreliable news sources.

Donate: With millions of Ukrainian people in need of relief, organizations across the world are rallying together to ensure essential resources reach them safely. You can easily support by making a donation to these organizations, or to general funds and personal fundraisers linked here.  

Speak up: Help spread awareness of what is happening in Ukraine and share useful resources with your network of friends and family. 

Go local: See if there are any local food or clothing drives in your area that are transporting supplies to Ukraine for humanitarian aid. 

Contact your government officials: Reach out to your local or national government representatives and urge them to provide safety and protection for Ukrainian refugees. 

At Yubo, we stand in solidarity with Ukraine and all of the Ukrainian people in the wake of the current military invasion. Our hearts go out to those who are suffering as a result of the ongoing violence and who have been displaced from their homes. As a European company, we feel deeply affected by this war on our home continent. We are committed to supporting our employees whose families have been impacted by this devastating crisis

In Support of Ukraine

Gender is the socially constructed qualities, roles, and characteristics historically associated with being a man or a woman. In the many discussions about gender on Yubo last year, our users largely viewed gender as “fluid, and can change, and can be both interpreted and expressed in various different ways.” They saw gender as a spectrum that, according to Coach Woodzy who came to Yubo to speak about trans identity during pride month, “is not only representative of various degrees of feminine and masculine, but holds space for the presence of both femininity and masculinity all at once, and also holds space for us to identify with and express neither of those qualities.” 

The Gender Binary is the classification of gender into only the opposing categories of masculine and feminine. It is the traditional view of gender that is being replaced with the gender spectrum. Our Gen Z users told us that they see the gender binary as “outdated and often harmful” because it forces people to only embrace their qualities that align with stereotypes of masculinity or femininity. 

Coach Woodzy disagrees with the gender binary because it does not “hold space for people to be whoever they want to be, on their own terms, and not because society says they have to be a certain way.” As our society moves to a broader definition of what “gender means,” individuals who are stuck in a binary idea of gender have a difficult time wrapping their brains around individuals who do not fit into a strict gender dichotomy, or do not identify with any gender at all.

A gender stereotype is an overgeneralized assumption about the characteristics of a man or woman. Gender stereotypes create widely accepted biases and perpetuate the notion of the gender binary. Gender stereotypes are dangerous because when individuals don’t conform to our gender stereotypes, they often face discrimination and unequal or unfair treatment. While gender stereotypes are still pervasive in our society, our users say that they are “slowly but surely” becoming less common and they see a great increase in “changing government documents, physical spaces, and social movements” to be more inclusive. For example, at Yubo we offer 35 genders and 50 pronouns to make sure our app is a safe and inclusive space for everyone.  

Our users also told us that gender stereotypes make it difficult to express their gender and pronouns to others. Coach Woozy, a binary trans man, says that it has taken him many years to feel enough “comfort and security within myself and my masculinity that I now feel safe to enjoy my femininity while being a masculine individual.” Even for someone like him, who has embraced the fluidity of gender from a young age, he says that “sometimes I just want to be me and I’m still learning how to best describe that.” The pressure to conform to gender stereotypes makes that learning process even harder. 

Gender fluid is when someone, in their gender identity, does not feel they are either completely male or completely female. People’s gender identity can often change over time. That change might be in expression, but not identity, or in identity, but not expression. Or both expression and identity might change together. Coach Woodzy says that while he feels “affirmed by doing traditionally masculine things,” and that while he lost many of his “feminine behaviors and qualities” throughout his gender transition, he has recently regained them. He attributes this shift in his gender expression to feeling more safe and secure in his masculinity. However, shifts are natural and can happen for no reason at all. For some people, gender fluidity may continue indefinitely as part of their life experience with gender.

Some people describe themselves as gender-fluid, which as an identity, typically fits under the transgender and nonbinary umbrella. Gender-fluid applies to people whose gender identity doesn’t match the sex assigned to them on their original birth certificate. (Nonbinary means a person’s gender identity doesn’t fit into strict cultural categories of female or male). Not everyone who experiences changes in their gender expression or identity identifies as gender-fluid. Nor does everyone desire gender-affirming medical treatment to change their body to better align with their gender identity. Ultimately, anyone who identifies as gender-fluid is a gender-fluid person. Often, the term is used to mean that a person’s gender expression or gender identity — essentially, their internal sense of self — changes frequently. But gender fluidity can look different for different people.

Gender-neutral means that something is not associated with either women or men. It can be both an identity or a way of referring to things without dividing them into genders. As an identity, gender-neutral falls under the nonbinary and transgender umbrellas. Gender-neutral individuals have a neutral gender identity or expression, or identify with the preference for gender-neutral language and pronouns.

As a way of speaking, being gender-neutral means using gender-neutral pronouns like “they” instead of “he” or “she,” or saying “everyone” instead of “ladies and gentlemen.” Using gender-neutral language can seem like a trivial thing, but for those who don’t fall neatly into the male or female categories, these constant references to the binary male and female groupings can be alienating. Even for those who do identify as male or female, these constant reminders of gender have an impact. By constantly dividing everyone into male and female categories we make ourselves perceive men and women as more different than they really are.  

What are the thoughts of Gen Z about gender roles and gender in general? 

Gen Z does not subscribe to traditional gender roles and sees gender as a spectrum that allows for multiple genders. When we asked Coach Woodzy this question, he said that “When [Gen Z] considers traditional roles and their place in today’s society, we think it’s important to let people be whoever they want to be, and do whatever they want to do. If someone enjoys aligning with gendered norms, that’s great. If someone doesn’t, that’s okay too.” They prioritize people being their most authentic selves over fitting into clear-cut gender categories, and see any pressure to conform to gender categories as destructive. 

What are the differences between Gen Z and Millenials about the topic of gender? 

Gen Z grew up surrounded by less gender stereotypes than Millenials, so they are more accepting of multiple genders and less likely to subscribe to the gender binary compared to millennials. According to a Pew Research Center Study, ​​Gen Z respondents were more likely than Millennials to say they knew someone who prefers that others use gender-neutral pronouns to refer to them: 35% say this is the case, compared with a quarter of Millennials. 

Coach Woodzy described first learning about gender spectrum in the third grade when his teacher put a string across the classroom that on one end had images of highly feminized things, like makeup, flowers, dolls, and the color pink; and masculine images like trucks, sports, and the color blue on the other side. The teacher asked the students to put their hand somewhere along the line, based on their hobbies and interests. According to Woodzy, “Not one single student was entirely feminine or entirely masculine” and showed that “it is okay to embrace the things we enjoy, regardless of what genders we assign to certain things.” Millennials were less likely to have been exposed to the gender spectrum at such a young age, and as a result, grew up internalizing more gender stereotypes than Gen Z. 

How can parents help their children in their personal journey about gender? 

Parents can help their children in their personal journey with their gender by avoiding gender stereotypes, using the correct pronouns, and embracing gender fluidity. Doing activities like the one Coach Woodzy described above, or encouraging them to embrace their interests that do not traditionally align with gender stereotypes, are great ways to subvert gender norms and make sure they feel comfortable being themselves. Coach Woodzy says that parents support their children in affirming their gender identity by asking themselves about their preconceived notions or biases about gender. He says that “It’s one thing to memorize the way that someone would like to be seen and acknowledged, it’s another to challenge your headspace about WHY you struggle to affirm someone else in the first place.” 

Gender and Gen Zwas one of the hottest topics on Yubo this year. So, we asked the Yubo users to describe how they view gender, its role in society, their thoughts on gender stereotypes, how their parents can support them in their personal gender journey, and so much more.

Gender and Gen Z

In honor of October being Black History Month in the UK, Yubo teamed up with activist Kaia Allen-Beven to host a special racial justice Live Session! Kaia is the organiser of Brighton’s Black Lives Matter protest. She is an inspiring advocate for police reform, social justice, and antiracism. During the interactive Q&A, she answered participants' questions and shared how Gen Z can leverage social media to fight for the Black Lives Matter movement.

In the wake of George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer, Kaia organized a Black Lives Matter chapter in her hometown of Brighton, England. By leveraging the power and speed of social media, Kaia and her fellow organizers brought together 10,000 people to march for BLM in just a few weeks. Before the live, she said that she was excited to talk about how Gen Z can use social media to organize, inform, and connect to create social change like never before. 

Black history month was first celebrated in the UK in October of 1987 in recognition of the contributions of African, Asian, and Caribbean people to the UK. Today, Black History Month is amplified by the Black Lives Matter movement's powerful strides towards eradicating white supremacy and systemic racism. Systemic racism and white supremacy manifest themselves in police brutality, disproportionate COVID-19 deaths in communities of color, and persisting inequities in education, housing, access to jobs, and pay. Black History Month is an opportunity to honor the triumphs and contributions of black people in the UK. But, just as importantly, it is a time to reflect on how racism still persists in the UK and around the world, and to commit to continuing to fight for racial equality through the rest of the year. 

During the Live, Kaia, her friend Mahalia, Murphy and two US activists talked about their own experiences with blackness, racism, and what it means to be an activist and an ally. She asked questions that challenged the participants and created a space for vulnerability, sharing, and growth.  

Kaia’s sincerity and insight inspired participants to be equally as open about their own experiences of racism. Participants shared stories of unequal treatment from teachers, insensitive jokes, and their family members experiences of racial profiling and state violence. To all of these, Kaia listened, empathized, and connected the individual's stories to why the Black Lives Matter movement is so important.  

The panel also received questions from white participants who were unsure how to be part of the solution. They asked questions about how to help and defend conversations like this one, how to educate themselves and others about white privilege, and how to have conversations with people that disagree with BLM. The panel listened to all of their questions and gave concrete advice on how anyone can be a part of the movement for racial justice. 

What does it mean to be young and an activist? 

One question Kaia asked was “what is an activist” and whether participants identified themselves as an activist. Mahalia said that while she is active in the Black Lives Matter movement, she does not identify as an activist. She said that an activist is someone who “works every day to try and change the narrative about what is going on”. In the age of social media, activism can often be mistaken as just reposting an infographic on Instagram. Participants talked about how just posting is often performative because true activism requires action. 

Throughout the Live, Kaia repeatedly emphasized the importance of continuing BLM efforts beyond Black History Month, because “if we only focus on the well-publicized events, we will never achieve change” To Kaia, the everyday opportunities to stand up to ignorance and practice antiracism are just as important as attending protests and rallies. Kaia believes that when we practice antiracism every day, our cities and our countries become more anti-racist as a result. And that this is how day by day, person by person, change happens.

In honor of October being Black History Month in the UK, Yubo teamed up with activist Kaia Allen-Beven to host a special racial justice Live Session! Kaia is the organiser of Brighton’s Black Lives Matter protest. She is an inspiring advocate for police reform, social justice, and antiracism.

How to fight for Racial Justice this Black History Month and Beyond

How to Fight for Racial Justice This Black History Month and Beyond

Safer Internet Day is an international celebration to promote safety and well-being online. It is celebrated by millions of people each February. Each year, Safer Internet Day aims to raise awareness of emerging online issues and current concerns. While it especially promotes online safety for young people, everyone benefits from a safer online world. From cyberbullying to social networking to digital identity, Safer Internet Day inspires an international conversation about using technology responsibly, critically, and creatively. 

In 2021, the theme for Safer Internet Day was “Together for a Better Internet”. It emphasized that whether you are a young person, a parent, a teacher, a policymaker, or whether you represent an organisation or industry, everyone has a role to play in creating and maintaining a better online world. Thousands of local, national, and international organisations participated to promote the positive use of digital technology for children and young people. 

Safer internet day is run by Insafe, a European network of Safer Internet Centres. Centres implement awareness and educational campaigns, run helplines, and work closely with youth to create a better internet. However, Safer Internet Day is also celebrated outside Europe. In 2009, the concept of Safer Internet Day Committees was introduced, and now, more than 100 global Committees work closely with the Safer Internet Day Coordination Team. Many external organizations also support Safer Internet Day with awareness-raising events and activities. Everyone is encouraged to participate in Safer Internet Day, whether they are an organization, a parent, or a young person!

Safer Internet day was created as an initiative of the EU SafeBorders project in 2004 to raise awareness of emerging online issues and current concerns. Safer Internet Day is even more important since the coronavirus crisis forced most of our daily activities to move online. On Safer Internet Day 2021, a brand new research report, “An Internet Young People Can Trust” surveyed over 2,000 young people aged 8-17, and revealed that 77% of 8-17s felt being online had been a more important part of their life in 2020 than before. As young people spend more and more time browsing the internet, we want them to be protected.          

What is the theme of Safer Internet Day 2022? 

The theme of Safer Internet Day 2022 is “All fun and games? Exploring respect and relationships online”. Each year, Safer Internet Day explores a new issue or theme which is impacting the lives of young people online. For 2022, the Day celebrates young people’s role in creating a safer internet and the ways they use the interactive entertainment spaces they are a part of. Online communities and relationships are very important to young people and have only become more important over the last few years. From gaming and chat to streaming and video, young people are shaping interactive entertainment spaces they are a part of. Safer Internet Day 2022 celebrates young people's role in creating a safer internet, whether that is while gaming and creating content or interacting with their friends and peers.

Safer Internet Day 2022 will take place on 8th February 2022!

Celebrate on Yubo, of course! Whether you are taking part in our live streams, or talking to some new friends, make staying safe online a part of the conversation. Here are some other ideas of how to celebrate safer internet day: 

Start a Live on Yubo to raise awareness about online safety! Share your screen and show videos, share tips, and engage with viewers by encouraging them to share how they stay safe online. 

DM a friend to let them know about the activities taking place on Yubo or in your life to celebrate Online Safety Day. Encourage them to become more engaged in the importance of online safety. 

Watch an online safety video. There are so many videos on important safety issues like respectful communication, cyberbullying, online advertising, false information, image sharing, and self-esteem. Watch one to become more informed about online safety and share it with your friends and family so that they can be too!

Develop an online Code of Conduct. Think about how you want to be treated and treat others online. Write down some rules and best practices for yourself. Brainstorms actions you can take to make the online world a better place!

How many countries celebrate safer internet day?

Approximately 200 countries and territories celebrate Safer Internet Day. From its launch in 2004 in the EU, it has grown beyond its traditional geographic zone and is now celebrated worldwide. Its size makes Safer Internet Day a landmark event in the online safety calendar. 

The internet is not inherently unsafe, but there are some emerging safety issues in these spaces as well as issues young people have been navigating for some time; particularly the lack of respect individuals display towards each other, groups ‘ganging up’ against other groups, and the sense that it is easy to ‘get away’ with negative behaviour such as meanness, bullying and swearing. They speak about hate directed at particular groups, particularly LGBT+ users, and misogyny on gaming platforms. They tell us the apparent lack of consequences for negative behaviour has an impact on their safety and well-being. 

The internet is also unsafe because research consistently shows that many children do not tell an adult if something goes wrong online. Safer Internet Day inspires parents to have conversations with their children about online safety. There is currently a lack of policy enforcing that everything that is illegal offline is equally prohibited on the internet. That’s why talking to your child is one of the most effective ways of ensuring they feel safe on the internet and will come to an adult if they encounter an issue. 

What does Yubo do to make the internet safer? 

Not just on Safer Internet Day, but every day, Yubo fosters supportive relationships and respectful communities. We equip our users with the tools they need to keep themselves and others on Yubo safe. We have a zero-tolerance policy for hate, bullying, and harassment. Our platform is a place for connection, community and collaboration because we empower our users to treat each other respectfully and arm them with resources if they encounter hate or bullying directed at them or someone else. 

Safer Internet Day is an international celebration to promote safety and wellbeing online. Yubo takes this opportunity to reiterate its daily commitment to making its platform a safe environment for its entire community. Yubo is a place for connection, community and collaboration because we empower our users to treat each other respectfully and arm them with resources if they encounter hate or bullying directed at them or someone else.

Everything you need to know about Safer Internet Day

Everything You Need to Know About Safer Internet Day

In the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the unequal treatment of the black community, our users had countless conversations on how they can educate themselves and others on antiracism, racial justice, and systemic inequality. This was one of our most talked about topics in 2021, so we thought we would provide a guide for the basics of racial justice, and how our GenZ users feel about it.

Racial justice is the systematic fair treatment of all people, resulting in fair opportunities and outcomes for everyone. Earlier this Year, to celebrate UK Black History Month, Yubo hosted a Live with Racial Justice and Anti-Racism Advocate, Kaia Allen-Beven who shared that “ordinary citizens can integrate daily antiracism practices in their daily lives” in order to work towards ending the current social, economic and political disenfranchisement of historically marginalized and minority ethnic groups. She told viewers that we need values and institutions that ensure fairness and justice, but that starts at the individual level by “bringing activism into their own homes and daily practices”. 

What is racial equity and social justice? 

Racial equity is actualized fairness and justice; and is the condition that would be achieved if one's racial identity no longer predicted, statistically, the outcomes of a person’s life. Meanwhile, social justice is fairness in society as a whole. During a live session, Kaia explained how there are many intersections between racial equity and social justice. One example she shared was in “fast fashion [where there is] intersectionality between environmentalism and how that disproportionately affects people of color, especially black people.” She said that this intersection shows the importance of individual and institutional change because while “we want to take down corporations” that are destroying the environment for fast fashion“ at our level to get that big change takes a long time, so it is about us as individuals having a conversation about why fast fashion is bad” These conversations allow us to reflect on ourselves and educate others at the same time.

What is the difference between equity and equality? 

Equity and equality are completely different from one another. Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities; meanwhile, equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and allocates the specific resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome. 

Race is a social construct that artificially divides people into distinct groups based on certain characteristics such as physical appearance (particularly skin color), ancestral heritage, cultural affiliation, cultural history, ethnic classification. However, this is only a technical definition of race. When Kaia asked participants in the Live “what does being Black mean to you?” They said it means “happiness”, “to be able to fight through all struggles that you face”, and “a power in society because it was something that was meant to be used as a negative thing, but our community flipped it and made it mean something beautiful”. 

Social disparity is the condition in which unequal opportunities, rights, benefits, incentives are afforded to some, but not to others. This is due to their membership, or non-membership, to a particular class, gender, age group, or race. Currently, social disparity is often manifested in the lack of opportunities, lower socio-economic status, higher unemployment and the racial wealth gap of historically marginalized and minority groups. 

Racial profiling is when the police use generalization based on race, ethnicity, religion or national origin, rather than individual behavior, specific suspect descriptions or intelligence. As one user, Steven, put it: “the police are more likely to stop a group of black guys than a group of white guys and it’s not fair at all if we are going about in our everyday lives”. Police officers are racially profiling when they view people as suspicious because of who they are, what they look like, or where they pray, rather than what they have done, and this has resulted in the police brutality which sparked the Black Lives Matter Movement. 

One user on Kaia’s live shared that racial profiling makes him “scared, as me being a black man, I was scared because if what happened to [Eric Garner and Tamira Rice’s died at the hands of police], who did nothing wrong at all, what can happen to me?”. He stated that this fear is what made him join the Black Lives Matter movement because now there is a movement for “people speaking out against the police, and holding police officers accountable who had been getting away with [racial profiling and police brutality] for decades”. 

The United States incarcerates more people than any other country in the world, and the system is set up to disproportionately harm Black, Indigenous, and Latinx communities. Black Americans are more likely than white Americans to be arrested; once arrested, they are more likely to be convicted; and once convicted, they are more likely to experience lengthy prison sentences. The disproportionate effect of race on sentencing is an example of “what happened, and what is still happening to the extent of it being modern-day slavery” according to Kaia. 

Racial health disparities are caused by the conditions in which people live, including access to good food, water, and housing; the quality of schools, workplaces, and communities; and the composition of social networks and nature of social relations. Racial health disparities are systematic differences in the opportunities groups towards achieving optimal health, leading to unfair and avoidable differences in health outcomes. 

Racial justice organizations that you can support 

Racial justice and equity will never be achieved by one leader or one group alone. It’ll take an array of activists and organizations operating at all levels, from the local to the international, to make change happen. Here are some organizations doing everything they can to make racial equity a reality:

Black lives matter is a dynamic, chapter-based, international organization whose goal is to create a world where violence is no longer inflicted on Black people. On the live, when asked what the BLM movement means to him, a user said that he feels “very proud of the Black Lives Matter movement” because “it is very effective at making change… and has achieved police reform, gone into education and helped black students in their schools when it comes down to fighting for teaching other parts of black history besides slavery”. 

The Color of Change is the US’s largest online racial justice organization. It addresses racial inequality through campaigns that  move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America.

Showing Up for Racial Justice uses community organizing, mobilizing, and education, to move white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for racial justice.

Young Black Americans are often talked about in the media, but it seems like they’re rarely heard from. The Black Youth Project provides a much-needed platform for the ideas and voices of Black millennials. The Black Youth project is so important because according to Mahalia “it can take years for a black person to get recognized compared to a person who isn’t black”. 

What is the purpose of the racial justice act?

The North Carolina Racial Justice Act, serves to ensure that the death penalty is not invoked on the basis of race. It was enacted in 2009 after comprehensive studies from studies in North Carolina and other southern states showed racial bias in the administration of the death penalty. The Racial Justice Act is one of the critical pieces of the criminal justice system today that is trying to combat the system’s disproportionate harm in Black, Indigenous, and Latinx communities.

Racial justice initiatives work to achieve racial equality and end racism. They strive to advance genuinely inclusive and equitable social, democratic, and economic institutions. Many of these initiatives are spearheaded by activists. An activist for racial justice is, according to Racial Justice and Anti-Racism Advocate Mahalia, “someone who puts a lot of time and effort into educating people on being Black and the issues amongst Black people”. These activists “work to change the narrative about what’s going on” according to Mahalia. They challenge dominant normative value of whiteness and replace exploitative practices with an anti-racist ethos that values diversity, inclusion, and reinforces the dignity of all people. 

Racial justice initiatives can also take the form of fairly funding, supporting, and promoting black culture, whether it be through it’s organizations, creators, or achievements. When we asked one user about this, he told us that “as a society, we could be promoting black and African cultures by having community cook out’s, family outings and community events to promote the culture”. Kaia echoed the importance of this for “bringing black excellence to the forefront, because it is very easy to associate blackness with its trauma, but to be able to say that blackness is beyond that, it is about the excellence” of people pursuing their passions even in the face of disproportionate oppression. 

At Yubo we are taking action for racial justice by partnering with racial justice NGOs,  teaming up with BLM activists like Kaia Allen-Beven to host a racial justice Live Sessions, and helping our users leverage social media to fight for racial justice. Yubo has been a place for organizing for social change. During our Live session, Kaia and the fellow activists who joined her planned the best ways to advocate for racial justice beyond Black History Month. At Yubo our belief is that we can make a difference, but only if we all stand together. 

Yubo users had countless conversations on how they can educate themselves and others on antiracism, racial justice, and systemic inequality. This was one of the most talked about topics in 2021 on Yubo. So the Yubo team thought they would provide some resources about the basics of racial justice, insights on how our GenZ users feel about it, and NGOs you can support to further the fight.

Racial justice : Definition, Initiatives, Organizations

Derrick and Darnel have built a huge community on Yubo-- with Lives hitting over 1000 viewers. They told us that they were able to create their community and make real friendships because Yubo gives them the freedom to be themselves and just have fun. That’s why we invited them to our blog to tell us more about how they use Yubo to make friends and form strong communities.

Derrick and Darnel are two brothers from Broward County, Florida that are known for their “Bored and Black” and “Rant” Lives. Their Bored and Black lives are hilarious and chaotic, while their Rant Lives are a mix of humor and actual advice. On the Rant Lives, they ask viewers to come on and share something that’s bothering them, and they give them advice that can be anywhere from serious to ridiculous… depending on the ranter. They’ll make jokes when someone comes on to rant about a minor inconvenience, like their uber eats order being messed up. But, when a viewer actually needs their advice, they do everything to support them and let them know that they matter. It's their mix of banter and advice that keeps users coming back to their Lives and has created their community on Yubo. Here’s just a few hilarious quotes from their last Live to show you what we mean:   

“What’s bothering your biscuits?” 

“All that sauce with only six chicken tenders, It’s like life is trying to tell me I’m a joke” 

“Life’s not Subway, you can’t have it your way” 

They say that they found Yubo completely by accident, but ever since, they’ve been using it to be creative, make friends, and have fun.

How did they build a Community on Yubo? 

The way that Derrick and Darnel use Yubo has allowed them to quickly build a tight-knit community. They don’t always host, but every two weeks they do a Rant live. Meanwhile, their Bored and Black Lives could be anytime, and it's always exciting for the people who know them when they see it pop up on the app. These lives tend to be more chaotic than Rants but both show how hilarious, authentic, and fun these two are. 

Other than that, they told us that they don’t really have a structure, but that’s ok because that’s not what Yubo is about. Yubo gives users the freedom to be themselves and just have fun in Lives. Derrick and Darnel are perfect examples that being yourself, and having fun talking to people is all it takes to build an amazing community on Yubo!

Derrick and Darnel told us that they love Yubo because it lets them get to know, and sometimes even become friends with their viewers. They may have a big community, but they said that it feels like on Yubo, everyone knows everyone! They have such a large community that when they join a Live, they are often greeted by the hosts saying excitedly, “Is that Derrick?! Hi Darnel!!”. But, they explained that when this happens on Yubo, it's different from Live streaming on their Youtube, or their Instagrams. On those platforms that person would be a fan that they would have likely never talked to. Meanwhile, they said that when that happens on Yubo, odds are, they have talked to that person before. It’s these meaningful interactions that have led to them making friends while they built their community on Yubo. 

Community Building and Making Friends on Yubo

Community Building and Making Friends on Yubo: Interview

Between miscommunications, lack of trust, discrimination, and cultural discord, finding friends from other countries can seem impossible. However, this is changing because of platforms like Yubo where people from around the world can engage in live conversations with each other. At Yubo, we are on a mission to create more international friendships.

In honor of international friendship, we wanted to give the floor to one of our users, Gonzalo Pacini, who has used Yubo to make friends all over the world. Since 2018, he has used Yubo to learn new languages, meet new people, and learn about other cultures. Gonzalo shows that with a little help from Yubo, friendships can form no matter the distance, and how connecting with people with different backgrounds lets us grow! 

I am Gonzalo Pacini, a 21-year-old Yubo user who learned seven languages and made dozens of friends from different countries by going Live on Yubo. 

Since I joined Yubo in 2018, I have learned English, French, Mandarin, Italian, Portuguese, German and am currently learning Russian. I keep learning more because I made so many friends that I never would have if I hadn’t been able to connect with them on Yubo. 

If you are learning a foreign language in school or on your own and looking for a way to practice? Go Live on Yubo! It lets you practice another language and meet people your age from all over the world while you’re at it! 

I believe that going live on Yubo offers young people something unique: the possibility of practising another language in a group setting. Unlike language learning apps, on Yubo Lives you can talk in real-time and carry a conversation with 3 or 6 native speakers talking one on top of each other, all at a native pace. I personally use Yubo for languages and it allows me to get out of my comfort zone, to speak quickly, to learn new words, local phrases, and to fit into a culture that is different from mine. While this was scary at first, I never gave up because meeting people with diverse backgrounds is so rewarding and because of them, my life improved immensely.

I have close friends all over the world because of Yubo. Sometimes in Lives I will even translate between two people because it's a shame to miss out on people because of a language barrier. It's still shocking every time I get to know someone, that if I hadn’t learned their language on Yubo or joined their Live, I would’ve otherwise never met. Meeting so many new people makes me see the world in a different light since other cultures are no different than yours. And when I get to know someone and understand them, I always come to realize that we are very similar as people.

How to use Tags to Make International Friends

Yubo is challenging you to try and make a friend from a different country. Plus, this is easier than ever with our new add friends by tag feature. Just hashtag the place you want to meet someone from and start making friends! If you’re hesitant about joining lives in another language, try just starting as a viewer. However you choose to celebrate, International Friendship Day shows us that we grow by connecting with people that are different from us, and there's no better place to do this than on Yubo!

In honor of international friendship, Yubo wanted to give the floor to one of its users: Gonzalo Pacini, who has used Yubo to make friends all over the world. Since 2018, he has used Yubo to learn new languages, meet new people, and learn about other cultures.

Make International Friends on Yubo

Make International Friends on Yubo: Interview

Yubo knows it has been a tough year for everyone, especially Gen Z.  That’s why we went all out for World Mental Health Day this year! We partnered with the inspiring model and influencer AJ Clementine! During her live, she answered questions, gave advice on staying sane during Australia’s lockdown, and had a meaningful conversation about mental health. Here’s a wrap-up of the event in case you missed it live! 

If you don’t know who AJ is, she’s one of Australia’s most popular social media stars and LGBTQIA+ advocates. AJ is only 25 years old but is changing the world by sharing her transition, mental health tips and body positivity. While we are obsessed with her fairy princess aesthetic, it was her openness and positivity that made her the obvious choice to host our live. 

During the event, she and some special guests got real with users about how to deal with anxiety, lockdown loneliness, online school,  and so much more. Participants asked her for advice on dealing with COVID-19 lockdowns, and Clementine said that she has been coping by “romanticizing everything in her life”…even if it’s just while binge watching a TV show. Clementine’s friend chimed in to say that she makes herself feel better by keeping her space clean. AJ  completely agreed. For her, “a clean space means a clean mind,  especially when you’re stuck inside all day”. 

AJ was not afraid to draw on her own life. When a user opened up about being nervous to see a therapist, AJ  shared that it took her a while “to work up the courage to take the first step” towards therapy, but that “as long as you are on that road,  you are doing amazing”. That being said, AJ knows what works for her might not be for everyone. Like when people ask Clementine about her gender identity,  she says that she is comfortable answering their questions and advocating for the transgender community. But she added that other people in this situation “don’t owe anyone information” and shouldn’t feel pressure to be open with their gender identity if they don’t want to.

AJ Clementine joins Yubo for Mental Health Live

The theme for World Mental Health Day this year was ‘Mental Health in an Unequal World’, because race, sexual orientation,  gender, and other factors have a big impact on mental health. One of  AJ’s greatest strengths is her willingness to talk about the mental health struggles specific to the transgender community. Like the advice, she gave to a participant who opened up about struggling with body dysphoria. Body dysphoria is when someone is battling the mismatch between their assigned gender at birth and their gender identity. AJ  shared that she deals by “reminding myself how far I have come” and told the listener that discovering “the little things that make you feel more confident is so important, whether it’s your style, or doing your makeup, or a pair of shoes, there are so many things we can access within ourselves to make us feel more confident”.

Thanks, AJ for being a fantastic host and inspiring member of Yubo’s community. Stay tuned for more mental health conversations and advice on Yubo! 

AJ Clementine joined Yubo this World Mental Health Day to host a mental health focused Live! AJ Clementine is one of Australia’s most popular social media stars and LGBTQIA+ advocates. On the live, Clementine gave advice, support, and so much love! She embodied the theme of World Mental Health Day 2021, ‘Mental Health in an Unequal World’ through her willingness to talk about the mental health struggles specific to the transgender and LGBTQIA+ community.

AJ Clementine Celebrates World Mental Day on Yubo

At Yubo, we’ve been focusing on building a place for Gen Z to make meaningful connections and have fulfilling conversations. That’s why we’ve been busy building features that help new users easily make groups of friends with common interests. More specifically, we want to encourage new users to express their hobbies and interests in their profiles and also explain that joining a live for the first time isn’t as high-stakes or intimidating as it may seem. 

Adding Tags at Sign-up = A More Personalized User Experience 

Users add tags to their profiles to show their new friends the latest topics that they’re keen to chat about. To make sure new users start off with plenty to discuss, we’ve included the tags feature in the account creation flow. In order for them to find the right tags to add to their profile, new categories have been launched– making it easier than ever to find everything from your favorite show or your favorite hobby. Already, this feature has been adopted by 65 percent of new users! 

We want our users to make friends with common interests, so it will now be possible to add friends by tags too! This new feature is super easy to access. Now, user’s top tags will appear directly in their “friends” tab so that all they need to do is click on them to find their future friends. 

This feature will also be available directly from users’ profiles. If a user comes across a profile with a  tag that interests them, they can click on it to find other users who share that interest. This feature is going to help users make valuable new connections and meaningful friendships. Not to mention that sharing the same interests is the perfect ice-breaking to start a new friendship! 

We Know Going Live can be Scary: So Let’s do a Test Run First 

Yubo is for all personality types,  from type A extroverts to the painfully shy. And no matter where someone falls on that spectrum, joining a live for the first time can seem intimidating. That’s why we added a new onboarding step that will differentiate between a watcher and a  streamer, and show users that they can join a livestream with their microphones and camera turned off. We hope that this improvement will show every user that they can socialize on Live without barriers, no matter what their comfort level is.

In Yubo's newest product update, we've added two new features: Adding friends by tag, and a Live test run when you create your account. We hope these new features will encourage new users to express their hobbies and interests in their profiles and also explain that joining a live for the first time isn’t as high-stakes or intimidating as it may seem. Adding friends by tag will enable users to make friends with common interests, and to show their new friends the latest topics they are looking to connect about.

Yubo Launches New Features: Add Friends by Tag

Worried about school or uni? Friends or family getting you down? Anxious about your health or finances? It’s been a tough 18 months for everyone so this year’s World Mental Health  Day (#WMHD), which takes place on Sunday 10 October, is more important than ever. 

In the US, for example, a study by not-for-profit organisation FAIR Health found that anxiety and depression among 13 to 22-year olds increased significantly in the spring of 2020. And in the UK, record numbers of children and young people (almost 200,000) sought access to NHS mental health services between April and June 2021, according to a report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Furthermore, this year’s #WMHD theme of ‘Mental Health in an Unequal World’ reminds us all that race,  ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, income and other factors can have an impact on our mental health and the kind of care we receive. As this article  by the World Federation for Mental Health puts it, “Many people with a  mental illness do not receive the treatment that they are entitled to  and deserve and together with their families and carers continue to  experience stigma and discrimination.” 

UNICEF recently set out three opportunities for improving young people’s mental health – one of which is to ‘continue engaging young people, their caregivers and their communities in judgement-free conversations about mental health’.  We support this wholeheartedly and, with more than 50 million users, we remain committed to encouraging open and honest dialogue about mental wellbeing on the Yubo platform. 

“At a time when young people should have had the freedom to explore who they are, doing whatever it is that they enjoy and gaining skills for the future, their lives were put on hold for many uncertain months. As everyone around them also seemed super-stressed, it was even harder to be open about how they were feeling. For some, this led to increased feelings of anxiety, stress and low mood,” explains Dr Richard Graham, Consultant Psychiatrist,  Clinical Director of Good Thinking and member of the Yubo safety board. “World Mental Health Day is an excellent opportunity to remind the Yubo community that it’s OK to express how you’re feeling and also feel it is your right to ask for support. Even taking part in Lives can be very helpful for sharing your  thoughts and realising you’re not alone.” 

To raise awareness of #WMHD and support members of the Yubo community on their journey to good mental wellbeing, we’re holding a series of events this month. These include  talks with:

AJ Clementine – an Aussie influencer and model who shares her transition on social media and promotes good mental health and body positivity 

Partnership for Young London – a UK association that aims to connect everyone who cares about young people in London

Emily Rios – a US influencer who advocates for good mental health and body positivity 

Dora Kamau and Akeem Pierre – US influencers who will discuss mental health in the black American community 

We’ll also be running a meditation session with a coach, a bedtime and relaxation story session with Shane Donohue and expanding our Ranting Lives. During these sessions, we invite young people to open up about any problems or concerns they have, vent their emotions and find others who will listen and provide much-needed support.

In addition, we’re teaming up with leading mental health charities and other organisations to run in-app  #WMHD awareness campaigns in our main territories. By working with Stem4 (Australia, New Zealand, US, Canada), Partnership for Young London (UK), Friends (Sweden) and Reach Out (Australia) we’ll give our users access to mental health support and resources. These campaigns will be visible in our Swipes function throughout October.

As the world gets back to some kind of stability after the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s vital that young people receive the support they deserve – so that they can thrive now and plan for the future. This might be through schools, healthcare services, charity helplines or wellbeing apps, such as Stem4. Social media companies like Yubo also play a crucial role by helping young people to connect with and support their peers. As a recent blog on the Parenting for a Digital Future website notes, the internet provides important communication and socialising opportunities for young people. It goes on to say, “In situations when children are struggling  with mental difficulties, online communities can offer unique support as they provide a strong connection, non-judgmental understanding, and a feeling of belonging.”

“The Yubo team has built a social media platform without influencers, followers or likes and works hard to promote kindness, positivity and resilience,” comments Annie Mullins  OBE, Safety Advisor to Yubo. “With young people turning to their digital spaces more and more, it’s vital that Yubo promotes national awareness days such as #WMHD but, more importantly, that self-care and supporting others is encouraged all year round. Thank you to everyone who is giving a  talk and supporting our in-app wellbeing campaigns – we really  appreciate it.”

Friends not followers, Mental health during COVID-19 and Safer Internet Day.

Yubo is celebrating this World Mental Health Day with special guests, events, and of course, Lives about the importance of mental health

Yubo x World Mental Health Day

The Gen Z social network app expands its sustainable freemium business model protecting user data

Yubo, the leading platform for young people to socialise online, today announces the launch of YuBucks, a virtual online currency. This new paid feature is part of the development of the social network's unique business model that monetises through sustainable social commerce rather than selling its users' data.

In mid-July, Yubo will also be launching another new paid-for feature: Pixels. Yubo has collaborated with the Pixel artist Banfan to create collectible digital art representing qualities, moods, and personalities. Yubo users will be able to purchase these in-app and can start their own collection, send it to their friends and send it to people they admire on the app, for example, their favorite streamers.

Yubo - Introducing Pixels

Founded in 2015, Yubo’s mission is to enable Gen Z to make genuine friendships online and is completely influencer free and like-free. By moving away from the traditional social network business model, Yubo’s users are able to more easily connect with each other without the pressure of likes. 

Sacha Lazimi, Co-founder and CEO of Yubo, said “The launch of YuBucks and upcoming launch of Pixels, is another step forward in strengthening our unique business model that montezises through social commerce as well as enhances the in-app experience for our users. 

Our freemium business models allow us to keep our users' data safe and protected, which is a top priority for us and our users. We are carving a new path in social media - at Yubo, we believe you shouldn't have to sell your personal data in order to enjoy and experience a platform.”

The addition of YuBucks creates a more seamless experience for users as they can purchase any paid-for feature in-app without having to repeat the payment process. As a result, users waste less time on microtransactions and can fully enjoy their experience on Yubo.

Yubucks will also facilitate the prize or reward system at events organised in the application. Users will be able to win prizes in YuBucks and be free to choose which paid feature they prefer and wish to obtain.

Yubo, the leading platform for young people to socialise online, announces the launch of YuBucks, a virtual online currency. Yubo also launched another new paid-for feature: Pixels, collectible digital art representing qualities, moods, and personalities.

Yubo Launches YuBucks and Pixels

“I’ve made so many amazing friends who also identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community through Yubo,” says 18-year-old Asher from Australia. “I absolutely love how open and supportive we are towards one another.” It’s always great to get this kind of feedback as we want Yubo to be a  platform where everyone can express themselves without fear of judgment. 

Indeed, we’re extremely proud to have such a large and active LGBTQIA+  community on Yubo. 2.8 million users have included the Pride flag in their Yubo profile since April 2020 and more than 4,000 livestreams about gender identity, sexuality and other LGBTQIA+ topics take place worldwide on our platform each day – that’s around 1.45 million livestreams a year! 

LGBTQ+ Life Around The World | Yubo 2021 Pride

Earlier this year, we asked Yubo users in the US, France, UK and Australia who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community to pick the most pressing topics for them and their allies so that we could put together a programme of livestreams to celebrate Pride month. 

As a result, we hosted various educational talks and Q&A sessions throughout June on topics such as gender fluidity, family acceptance and challenging racism. We also organised make-up tutorials, discussions about self-love and youth engagement and a drag queen ball. 

It was quite a month and we couldn’t have done it without the amazing support of a number of LGBTQIA+ organisations and influencers from around the world, including @montykeates, @sebbbyjon, @calypso_jete, and @lyanna_queen.  Thank you to all those involved – you helped members of the Yubo community to think, laugh, share, meet new people and get inspired.

In mid-June, we announced that 35 gender identities and 50 pronouns in multiple languages are now available on the Yubo platform to give our users a more personalised and inclusive experience. It’s another proud moment for us as we’re the first platform to enable our users to customise their profile in this way. 

We worked with UK-based LGBTQIA+ focused NGO Mermaids on this initiative. As Matt Moore of Mermaids says, “It’s  extremely important that organisations like Yubo are taking these steps  to make their platforms a more inclusive place for gender-diverse young  people.” 

Our CEO and Co-Founder Sacha Lazimi notes that we want our entire community to feel accepted and included.  We’ve already built a platform that is not focused on followers or  ‘likes’ and, by providing LGBTQIA+ young people with a range of gender identities and pronouns for their Yubo profiles, we’re going even further in helping our users represent themselves authentically. 

One of our ambassadors, 20-year-old  Zach who is based in the US, describes the addition of gender identities and pronouns in the Yubo app as a landmark. They praised Yubo for giving users the option to meet like-minded people who can provide support and comfort they may not get from their community, relatives or friends. “It’s the family you can choose,” comments Zach. 

This sentiment is echoed by 17-year-old Ryan from France who says, “On Yubo I have been able to find friends and to fully accept myself as I  am… [Yubo] is full of kindness, we share our doubts and we advise each  other to move forward.” Or as 18-year-old Zekorri from the US puts it, “… we can find people who are like us and who can help us feel more ourselves.”

Pride month was an opportunity for Yubo to help advance LGBTQIA+ equality and amplify young people’s voices. As June drew to a close, we realised something: our platform really is a safe space for LGBTQIA+ young people; a place where they can open up and share their hopes, dreams and concerns. 

Yubo's Take

Here for all of it.

A Letter From Our CEO on New Safety Policies and Features on Yubo

Yubo’s New Age Verification Feature Helps Keep You Safe

In Support of Ukraine

Gender and Gen Z

How to Fight for Racial Justice This Black History Month and Beyond

Everything You Need to Know About Safer Internet Day

Racial justice : Definition, Initiatives, Organizations

Community Building and Making Friends on Yubo: Interview

Make International Friends on Yubo: Interview

AJ Clementine Celebrates World Mental Day on Yubo

Yubo Launches New Features: Add Friends by Tag

Yubo x World Mental Health Day

Yubo Launches YuBucks and Pixels

Looking Back at Pride Month

Friends not Followers

Thank You, Next

Social justice and Social Media

Maintaining Good Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Let’s Talk Identity

Think Before You Send