With all the pressures of the January festive season finally behind us, there is still one last holiday hurdle in February. The shops that had just barely stopped selling stocking fillers are now fully stocked with heart-shaped chocolates and overpriced roses. The holiday in question? St. Valentine’s Day. If you have someone to celebrate with, it’s time to scramble for the most romantic dinner spot in town. If not, the pressure is on to frantically search for a date. You don’t even have to like them that much, as long as there’s someone – right? Anyone? Right?! Ugh.

Well, here at Yubo, we don’t believe in forcing things or putting yourself under unnecessary pressure just because it’s supposed to be “the most romantic time of the year.” We’re skipping the sky-high expectations of St. Valentine’s Day to do something different. On the 13th of February, we will be celebrating PALentine’s Day instead!

While Valentine’s Day is an ancient celebration and has likely been around since the Roman era, Palentine’s Day is a much newer holiday. The term “Palentine’s Day” itself was inspired by the TV show Parks and Recreation. The show’s protagonist, Leslie Knope, introduced "Galentine’s Day," a holiday dedicated to celebrating female friendships. While Galentine’s Day focuses on celebrating the girlies, Palentine’s Day is a more inclusive version of the holiday, designed to honor pals of all genders. It became a thing in the 2010s, fuelled not only by the popularity of Parks and Rec, but also by a broader societal realization that friendships have long been undervalued compared to romantic relationships.

Why does romantic love get all the attention?

For the longest time, society has been obsessed with romantic love. Finding "The One" seems to be the ultimate goal in almost every book or movie. Even in real life, friendships are often considered secondary – something that's nice to have, but ultimately much less important than finding your romantic soulmate. But what about the people who have been there before, during, and after the good, the bad, and the ugly? 

The reasons for romantic love to get the highlight are complex and varied, however, thankfully, this trend of overvaluing romance is slowly shifting. More people are opting to share their lives with friends on a deeper and more meaningful level. Additionally, the rise of chosen families in LGBTQ+ communities and in general has further challenged the idea of traditional romance as the ultimate relationship goal. So, why not celebrate this cultural shift that brought us opportunities to enrich our social lives with more varied and multi-faceted relationships? This year, you can even celebrate with us, on Yubo, and we're about to tell you how!

Celebrating Palentine’s Day 2025 on Yubo

To help you celebrate, we will be updating the app with a special in-app welcome pop-up to showcase the event. On top of that, we will offer some exclusive rewards and features:

“Be My PALentine” Tag: Add this tag to let people know you’re looking for a PALentine. Connect with likeminded people that value friendships as much as you do!

25 Free YuBucks: Add five new friends who share your interests and receive free YuBucks that you can spend in-app! If you need some ideas about what to spend them on, we've got you covered.

Send a PALentine’s Day Pixel for Free: Pixels are festive gifts that users send to express appreciation. On Palentine’s Day, we’ll have a dedicated Pixel that you can send for free to as many people as you like.

Palentine’s Day isn’t just another holiday – it’s a celebration of what Yubo stands for: authentic friendships, inclusivity, and a space where everyone belongs. We invite you to share this moment with us on February 13th, 2025. Whether you’re reconnecting with old friends or making new ones, Yubo is where connections blossom!

Celebrating PALentine’s Day 2025 on Yubo

Have you ever wanted to turn your online friends into in-person friends? Online friends are awesome, but with the whole world at your fingertips, it’s sometimes nice to scale back and keep it local. That’s why our team at Yubo has introduced a new feature: Near You. You might have noticed the new “Near you” tab inside the app – it’s your getaway to transforming online friendships into offline ones! It’s available as a part of our new Infinity Pack, granting you access to “Near you” as well as other cool functions inside the app – more on that later. We’ve also added a new section to the Friends tab, showing friend requests from nearby users separately from the rest. This section is free to use, no subscription is required.

Here at Yubo, we’ve already heard the first success stories from users exploring “Near you”. Finding new friends whilst traveling is becoming a popular way to use the feature, ensuring you have company for your evenings even on solo trips. It’s also great for embracing spontaneity – ask a local to join you for that open mic comedy night you've been wanting to see whenever all your other friends are busy!

If you've never tried to before, meeting online friends in real life can be a little daunting. Most people who have some experience with transitioning their digital friendships into IRL ones have some interesting reasons to do so. For example, it gives them a chance to get to know the person before hanging out one-on-one. Also, breaking the digital barrier and getting to know their new friend's real self alongside their online self can strengthen the bond they develop! If you're still unsure about meeting online friends IRL, think about these reasons to try out an online-to-offline relationship.

Discover cool new spots and local events. Meeting people who live locally can be a great source of personalized recommendations! It's challenging to keep up with new local venues, exhibitions, and more, so it could be awesome to enlist some help. Let locals show you the hidden gems they’ve discovered in the area. Meet up to enjoy some entertainment, try that book club you’ve heard so much about, or see the latest movie at the cinema.


Feel safe and confident. If you happen to be a little awkward around new people, meeting new friends online first can help you to get to know them better before meeting up IRL. Breaking the ice can be a little easier online, and when you're ready for your one-on-one, they'll no longer be a stranger. You can discuss expectations, set boundaries, and assess if you’re feeling comfortable enough to meet in person. This approach can help with any feelings of nervousness or anxiety, and will help you find common interests and determine if you vibe before meeting face-to-face.


Friends next door. Going away for college, moving to a new neighbourhood, or experimenting with living in a different city or country can make it hard to see your old friends in real life. Whilst it’s great to keep in touch even if you cannot see each other very often, sometimes you need some new local connections to hang out, chat, grab a coffee, or see a film. Considering how fast-paced modern life is, the usefulness of having some friends no more than thirty minutes away from you truly cannot be overstated.

The Internet is brimming with stories when it comes to meeting your online friends IRL! If you still feel like you need some inspiration or a little nudge, check out this great piece exploring how it feels to connect with your internet friends offline.

Meeting new people you’ve connected with online can be cool and exciting! However, it is crucial to be aware of potential risks and make your safety a priority. You deserve to feel at ease when meeting someone new. Consider the following checklist to ensure a safe and comfortable experience when you’re meeting someone new face-to-face for the first time.

Jump in a live or try voice messaging first. While texting might be your go-to communication method, it’s useful to set up a video call or exchange voice notes with a person you’re planning to meet IRL. This helps you to get a better sense of their personality and make sure they look and sound right.


Choose a public place. Meet your new friend somewhere public, like a café, museum, or a busy well-lit park. Always remember to make separate travel arrangements.


Tell someone about your plans. Inform a trusted person about where you’ll be meeting your new friend. You can also share your location with a friend or family member, so that they can check on you. Keep your phone charged and bring a charger or a power bank, just in case.


Set boundaries. Be vocal about your expectations and boundaries, whether it’s about your physical space or conversation topics.


Avoid alcohol. Stay sober when meeting someone new, as alcohol can make you vulnerable and impair your judgement.


Trust your gut feeling. If something feels off about the person you’re meeting, trust your judgement. Don’t hesitate to leave or ask for help. Always verify that the person you’re meeting matches their online photos.

When you’ve got your safety figured out, you can check out this article with some more lighthearted tips on how to prepare for meeting your online friend, such as predicting their height or learning how to pronounce their name correctly beforehand!

Now that you know whether meeting your online friends offline is for you and you’re equipped with some basic safety tools, it’s time to reach out and explore. You can access the “Near you” feature by subscribing to the Infinity Pack. This pack doesn’t just give you access to “Near you” – it also lets you see who viewed your profile and who swiped right on you. You’ll get one free Boost, Turbo, and Spotlight power every week, as well as Reverse Swipes that allow you to go back when you accidentally swipe left. With unlimited swipes included in the pack, you can go through as many profiles as you like. Plus, no ads! The Infinity Pack was designed by Yubo to offer you the most value and fast-track your friend-making journey, ensuring you connect instantly and without limits. To find out more about various powers you can purchase on Yubo, check out the guide written by our team!

Online or offline, we’re excited about the connections you will make on Yubo. So decide if this is for you, remember to stay safe and get ready to meet some people near you!

The Key to Finding Local Friends on Yubo: Introducing “Near You”

Power Up Your Yubo Experience with Turbo Mode and Premium Features

Hey Yubo Fam! Ready for an awesome time? You're in the right place.

Yubo isn't just an app; it's where the fun happens! With over 80 million users worldwide, we're the ultimate hangout for Gen Z. Imagine live streams, and shared interests all for free on the App Store and Google Play.

At Yubo, we're all about good vibes and safety vibes. We've got your back with the best safety features, making this space your positive zone.

Guess what makes us awesome? You! Thanks to your love for Yubo, we've become THE place to be. Spread the word and let's grow together!

Now, let's talk about Turbo Mode!  Imagine supercharging your Yubo adventure – that's Turbo Mode for you! More connections, more fun – it's a game-changer. And hey, today's all about Turbo, but remember, Yubo has lots more cool stuff waiting to be explored!

So, get ready for a Turbo Mode journey like no other. Your Yubo adventure is about to get an upgrade – let's dive in and turbocharge those connections.

Daily Automatic Launch: Experience the convenience of a daily Turbo, strategically launched at peak times each day.

Notification Alert: Stay in control with a pre-launch notification, allowing you to log in and maximize your swiping potential.

Effortless Matching: Sit back, relax, and let Turbo Mode do the work while you discover meaningful connections at your own pace.

Activate Turbo mode #turbomode #yubo #yubofeatures

Perfect Timing Turbo Mode ensures your Turbos are launched at peak times, significantly boosting your chances of connecting with interesting people.

Flexibility: Whether you actively participate during the Turbo launch or prefer a hands-off approach, Turbo Mode adapts to your preferences.

Yubo's Premium Features: How to access premium features and Turbo Mode? Follow these simple steps:

2. Tap your Profile icon on the top right of the screen

Receive 1 free Turbo, Boost, and Spotlight per week

For Elite Pack (Includes all Power Pack perks and):

Spotlight Messages to connect with new people

YuBucks - Your Currency for Premium Powers

What are YuBucks? Yubo's currency for acquiring premium powers like Boosts, Spotlights, Turbos, Pixels, and Fast-Adds.

How to Purchase YuBucks: Conveniently purchase YuBucks directly through the app to enjoy premium powers.

Earning YuBucks: Receive YuBucks by receiving Pixels, allowing you to spend them on your favorite Yubo powers.

Spotlights: Feature your profile at the top of the online section for increased visibility.

Boosts: Push your live to the top of the lives feed, ensuring more visibility to users.

Turbos: Boost your profile on Swipe, increasing your visibility for quick connections.

Embrace the power of Turbo Mode and Yubo's premium features. 

Subscribe today and elevate your Yubo journey to a whole new level!

Yubo isn't just an app; it's where the fun happens! With over 80 million users worldwide, we're the ultimate hangout for Gen Z. Imagine live streams, and shared interests all for free on the App Store and Google Play.

At Yubo, we're all about good vibes and safety vibes. We've got your back with the best safety features, making this space your positive zone.

Guess what makes us awesome? You! Thanks to your love for Yubo, we've become THE place to be. Spread the word and let's grow together!

Now, let's talk about Turbo Mode!  Imagine supercharging your Yubo adventure – that's Turbo Mode for you! More connections, more fun – it's a game-changer. And hey, today's all about Turbo, but remember, Yubo has lots more cool stuff waiting to be explored!

So, get ready for a Turbo Mode journey like no other. Your Yubo adventure is about to get an upgrade – let's dive in and turbocharge those connections!

Power Up Your Yubo Experience with Turbo Mode

Yubo’s Powers Unlocked: A Comprehensive Guide

On Yubo, you’ve got the power. And not only one single power! There is a whole bunch of them, letting you enhance your experience on Yubo through adding more friends, getting more live visitors, or receiving more messages. These powers are usually paid-for (unless you win some through our new Achievements section of the app – which you should absolutely try to do!) and they can give you that little extra on the basic app functions that we offer our users for free.

So sit back and relax – we are taking you on a brief guided tour of all Yubo’s powers. We will explain what they do and give you some examples on how to best use them. So no matter if you’ve been on Yubo for years or just joined a week ago, there will be something for everyone here! However, if you’re unfamiliar with the app at all, we recommend you to start with our back-to-basics blog post that explains what Yubo is used for, and then come back to read this one.

The first power we will explore is Boost. We bet you’ve seen it before – as a small button with a red pointed arrow inside the live, or as a word “Boosted” on the top of the live card when you’re browsing for lives to join. So what does it do? As you have probably guessed by now, it has something to do with lives. More specifically, Boosts help to make your live – or someone else’s live you find interesting and would like to promote – more visible.

Once a live gets a Boost, it gets automatically entered into the Boost league, where it will compete with other boosted lives for the number one spot. You can get them individually with YuBucks, our in-app currency, or receive one per week as a part of your Power Pack or Elite Pack subscription (don’t worry about these for now – we will come back to them later).

Another power we have in store is Fast Adds, a feature that allows you to send friend requests to many people at once. Be it 100, 200, or 500 people, you can now jump straight to having conversations and building those connections. And when you go live, all your friends will get a notification, speeding up the process of getting to know them better!

Spotlight is another popular feature we have. It allows you to take center stage and get other people to start conversations with you easily! The premise here is very simple: when you activate the Spotlight, your profile is placed in the Spotlight panel, on top of our live and chat tabs. Other Yubo users browsing through these tabs – even the users who are not yet your friends! – can start an instant conversation with you, based on your bio, tags, and overall vibe. So if you love to be in the center of attention, or alternatively if you’re a little shy and reluctant to start conversations of your own, Spotlight can be a perfect way for you to get to meet new people from all over the world.

Reverse Spotlight is exactly what it sounds like – just like actual Spotlight, but with an accent on the user who is sending the message, not the one receiving it. This feature gives you an opportunity to send messages to users you feel like you’d vibe with, no matter if you’ve friended them before! Get a chance to break the ice without waiting to be matched and added as a friend. It can be purchased with YuBucks or accessed as a part of the Elite Pack.

Turbo is a really good find for those who spend most of their time on Yubo looking through the profiles of their new friends-to-be! This power magically promotes your profile in the Swipe section to the top of the pile, so upon activation, your profile will be at its most visible. With Turbo on, you will start receiving more friend requests for the next five minutes, as your profile rises to the top. This feature can be purchased as a standalone, or acquired through subscription to our Power Pack or Elite Pack.

Reverse Swipe is another power for our users searching for friends through our Swipe tab. You don’t need to worry about ever swiping wrong with this one, as it gives you the power to turn back time and right the wrong! So if you have ever swiped the wrong way by accident, having a Reverse Swipe allows you to return to the previous profile and avoid missing out on a potential friendship! To receive unlimited use of this feature, all you need to do is to subscribe to either the Power Pack or Elite Pack that we offer our users (they come with a lot of other fun features too).

Another great feature for all our swipe enthusiasts is “See Who Added You”. It gives you a chance to stop swiping blindly and create instant conversations by allowing you to choose your new connections among people who have already swiped right on you! This feature speeds up the process of matching and lets you skip all the boring parts and jump straight to the stage of messaging people and going live with them.

In addition to seeing who added you, you can now see people who viewed your profile with “See Who Viewed You”. This can give you a boost of confidence to talk to people who you haven’t previously talked to, or remind you to send that long-overdue message you kept forgetting about to your Yubo bestie! Paired with our Reverse Spotlight feature, this could be your easiest way to new connections on Yubo yet.

Power Pack is one of Yubo’s recurring subscription packs. It is a bundle of features selected for you to enhance your app experience, and it includes some of the features we were talking about before, such as Turbo, Boost, and Spotlight. It also allows you to swipe over 1,000 profiles a day and gives you access to unlimited Reverse Swipes. You can also see everyone who swiped right on you, so you’re never left guessing!

Introduced in 2022 for the first time, our Elite Pack made quite the splash! Being an expansion of the Power Pack, it has all of the good stuff the Power Pack has to offer: 1 Boost, 1 Turbo, 1 Spotlight, and unlimited Reverse Swipes. But it also gives you a bunch of exclusive powers that you do not get with the Power Pack, such as seeing people who viewed your profile, appearing at the top of the swipe card pile for the people you swiped right on, as well as getting access to Reverse Swipe that we mentioned above, to name just a few.

Watch Our Elite Pack YouTube Video To Learn All About the Feature

Yubo New Feature: Elite Power Pack

You might have noticed some Yubo users having small artworks displayed in their bio section. Ever wondered what they are? Well, we’re here to tell you: they are Pixels – collectible digital art that can be sent to or received from your friends. We have many Pixel collections that would suit a range of different artistic tastes, so you can browse and pick one that reflects your friend’s or your own personality best! What’s even cooler is that every time you receive a Pixel, you also get some YuBucks to spend on Boosts, Turbos, or Spotlights. Pixels can be a sweet pick-me-up for a friend or a lovely way to say “thanks” for a great live. To know more, check out more information we have on Pixels on our “Subscription and YuBucks” support tab.

Here at Yubo, we are always innovating to find new pathways to social connectedness. The powers above are some of the tools we designed to make your journey on the app smooth and seamless. We really hope this overview was helpful for both old and new users alike.

Whether you are someone who spends all your time in a live or someone who values one-on-one private chat conversations (by the way, check out our blogpost about making friends online as an introvert!), we made sure to include things that would enhance your experience and help you get what you’re looking for – new conversations, new social experiences, and new friends. So, if you were waiting for a sign to give some of the powers we featured a go, the time is now!

On Yubo, the Social Discovery app, you’ve got the power. And not only one single power! There is a whole bunch of them, letting you enhance your experience on Yubo through adding more friends, getting more live visitors, or receiving more messages. These powers are usually paid-for (unless you win some through our new Achievements section of the app – which you should absolutely try to do!) and they can give you that little extra on the basic app functions that we offer our users for free. This article is a brief guided tour of all Yubo’s powers.

Lo and behold: Yubo has introduced a new cool way to get YuBucks! Gamers know it, film buffs know it, language enthusiasts know it…It’s the rush of seeing a pop-up on the screen that lets you know you’ve unlocked a new in-game achievement playing hot and trendy Baldur's Gate 3. The sweet sensation of finally giving a Letterboxd rating to a movie that sat on your to-watch list since forever. The superior feeling of having Duo the Owl congratulate you on completing your daily Spanish language quest. And now, you can be a part of it on Yubo, too!

With our new Achievement feature, you can earn free YuBucks by simply continuing to use the app the way you love. Whether you are texting, swiping, or streaming, you can level up on your achievements and get increasingly larger rewards whilst using our in-app features regularly – even by just sending Pixels to your BFFs!

Gamification is a popular way to increase engagement and fun by adding game elements to various activities. And it’s not only useful for apps – for instance, voluntary blood donation services in the UK use gamification to encourage people to donate consistently! Donating five times will get you a bronze donor card with your blood type on it, donating a hundred times will result in an invitation to donors’ ceremony. And there are so many more ways gamification is seamlessly introduced into your everyday life. For instance, it can encourage you to workout consistently and is often used by various fitness programmes. It is also incredibly popular in education, with schools that are introducing game elements alongside their more traditional ways of learning. Even workplaces are in on this trend for various training and productivity purposes.

Yubo’s newest Achievements feature uses gamification to improve your experience on the app. By introducing a levelling-up element, most frequently associated with gaming, all users are encouraged to participate on equal terms and get rewarded for their participation: no more empty profiles or lack of tags to find your new friends by!

Filling out your bio, adding pictures, tags and emojis is now not just a boring “set up your profile” task, but an activity you can get free YuBucks for. And the cycle does not stop here: your hard-earned YuBucks can further better your time on the app – our in-app currency can be spent on gifting Pixels, boosting your favourite lives or finding new friends in the Discover section. And it’s not just YuBucks that you can receive from participating – finishing more complex tasks can earn you free access to Yubo’s paid features, such as Spotlight or Turbo. If you always wanted to explore those without paying – it’s a sweet little deal. So, it’s always a win-win!

What kind of Achievements are there, then? Yubo introduced a number of Achievements, starting from the most basic tasks, such as filling out your profile (to promote meaningful connections based on shared interests and compatible vibes) to more complex ones, such as “Mingle-mingle” and “Swipe-out” (that encourage you to put yourself out there and socialize).

What’s more, there are levels too! The first level offers our users some pretty straightforward ways to earn YuBucks as they’re discovering ways to customize their profile for bigger prominence and better matches. The second level is all about discovering new features that might have been overlooked by our users in the past. The third level is where the real fun begins – you get your first chance to receive one of our paid-for features as your leveling-up reward, for free, and the tasks Yubo has designed for this level promote expanding your friendship circle and establishing even more meaningful connections. Levels four and five are there to make you a real Yubo powerhouse with a complete understanding of all the nooks and crannies of the app and end up a part of a robust friendship group.

Level up your profile and earn free YuBucks simply by adding more information to your profile: it can be your interests or simply just more pictures of you and the things you love. Got a snap of yourself at your favorite band’s gig or, maybe, next to some luscious plant you’ve been nurturing all year in your room? Add them all to your profile! Express yourself and meet people who like you for who you are.

Keep those conversations going and earn rewards by receiving messages from your new friends. We suggest “Did you hear about Yubo’s new Achievements feature?” as a great conversation starter.

Swiping right and adding new connections will help you get Achievements too. The more connections you make – the more YuBucks you get, but as it’s always quality over quantity when it comes to friends! So, we made sure you can also get YuBucks through adding your closest friends as your BFFs on the app.

Yubo would not be Yubo without going live, am I right? So, starting a Live will also help you get new Achievements. Streaming, watching or having people join your Lives all will ensure your steady rise to the top.

Another way of getting rewarded within the Achievements feature is sending and receiving Pixels. They’re a cool thing in itself, so do consider sending a few to your closest mates – they will appreciate the gesture and you will enjoy getting that sweet “level up” pop-up animation.

Lastly, using Spotlights, Turbos and other in-app features will help you get more Achievements! So if you have not tried any of them yet, this is as good a time as any. Get on the app and see what you’ve been missing.

Sounds good? So go to your app, click on the Profile icon at the upper right corner of your screen – the list of achievements can be found right below your name and profile picture – and get achieving. Here’s to better times and more meaningful connections. We hope you will find yours!

Yubo has introduced a new Achievements feature, adding a fun gamification element to the app. Users can earn YuBucks, the in-app currency, by completing various tasks and leveling up. These tasks range from filling out profiles to socializing and going live on the platform. YuBucks can be used for gifting, boosting livestreams, or accessing premium features. Achievements come in different levels and promote meaningful connections, making Yubo even more engaging and rewarding for its users.

Yubo’s brand-new Achievements are here to promote better connections

Yubo Launches New “Causes” Tags To Reflect Desire For Valuable Connections

Gen Z is the generation that grew up with smartphones glued to our hands. Memes are our second language, the power of the internet is right at our fingertips, and we really know how to harness it! But, let's be real, besides funny cat videos and the latest TikToks, there are plenty of ways in which the internet can be used – and talking politics and activism is one of them. Making up 10% of the global electorate, Gen Z is not just a bunch of screen-tappers. We are a force to be reckoned with!

Politics is an unavoidable and important part of life. For young people, it is so now more than ever. With us being famously at the forefront of political grassroots movements such as School Strike for Climate, it is important for Yubo to reflect on the political stances and values our users have. Just like our users, who are constantly evolving, we are always on the lookout for innovative technologies, working outside the beaten track, to evolve with them.

Initially, Yubo introduced our “Add by tag” feature to promote better and more lasting meaningful connections. In the past year, our users connected through their shared love of epic tunes, latest films, sports, video games, or other leisure activities that made up nineteen tag categories Yubo currently features. Knowing that for many young people nowadays dedication to causes is non-negotiable, finding friends who share their values through the all-new “Causes” category is now another way they can search for new valuable social connections. After all, why go solo when you can be a part of a vibrant community ready to listen to your ideas and develop theirs alongside you? Joining a crew of like-minded people feels good: it offers us a blend of fresh perspectives, bold opinions, and unexpected insights.

By bringing in what really matters and connecting young people to each other through causes they have a common interest in, we empower them to further develop ideas of their own and test them against other people’s ideas. Here at Yubo, we hope this brand-new feature will ignite powerful and respectful discussions and give Gen Z the needed tool to reflect and refine their political beliefs.

With an array of tags covering movements from environment preservation to equal civil rights for minority groups – such as “Racial equality”, “Gender equality”, “Affordable healthcare” and “Climate change” tags – Yubo strives to represent our users in their work to create a more equitable and fair world.

So, find your new politically-aware besties, jump in a live, and make the change unstoppable!

Yubo launches new tag catergory: "Causes". By using the add by tag feature on Yubo you can now also find people who share similar causes to you. Yubo continues to grow it's 'add by tag' feature - so finding friends with similar interests has never been easier!

At Yubo, we are constantly striving to innovate, and offer new ways for our users to connect with each other. That's why we are excited to announce our latest product feature: it is now possible to send voice notes in private messages!

Our users can now send short voice messages to their friends and connections on Yubo. Whether you want to say hello, share some gossip, a funny story, or just catch up with your friends, the voice note feature makes it easy to connect in a more authentic way.

In addition to being a more personal and engaging way to connect with others, our voice note feature is also incredibly easy to use. Simply tap the microphone icon in the private message window, record your message, and hit send! It's just that easy.

At Yubo, we believe that authentic connections are substantial to building a happier and more connected world. With our new voice note feature, we hope to make it easier than ever for our users to connect with each other and build meaningful relationships.

So what are you waiting for? Try out our new voice note feature and start connecting with your friends and connections on Yubo in a whole new way!

This feature has been released on iOs and Android, head to the app store to download the latest version of Yubo now. 

The Social Discovery app Yubo has introduced a new product feature that allows users to send voice messages in private messages. This feature is easy to use and provides a very personal and engaging way to connect with your community. Yubo believes in the importance of authentic connections and hopes that this new feature will help users build meaningful relationships. This Yubo feature is available on both iOS and Android.

Introducing Yubo’s latest product feature: voice note

You may have already heard about the French Tech, without really knowing what it stands for or even who is involved. At Yubo, we are proud to be part of the 2023 French Tech promotion, and we'll explain to you why.

The French Tech is a public mission attached to the Ministry for the Digital Economy, which aims to encourage the emergence of French Tech leaders, capable of competing on the world stage with the largest companies in the sector. 

To achieve this objective, the French authorities have decided to award an official label to metropolitan clusters recognised for their start-up ecosystem. During the first wave of labelling in 2014, 9 French cities received this label. Today, there are more than 121 entities with the label, including 63 cities abroad such as London, New York or Hong Kong.

The French initiative was officially launched in November 2013 by Fleur Pellerin, who back then was  France's Secretary of State for Digital Affairs.

When we think of big Tech companies, it's common to think of GAFAM and, by extension, the US (even if things are changing since the rise of TikTok and Alibaba). 

But France also has great tech companies, for example, before this article, did you know that Yubo is French? 

The French Tech creates an ecosystem of start-ups where entrepreneurs can exchange best practices and successes while being supported in their development. The objective of French Tech is, therefore, twofold. On the one hand, it seeks to promote French expertise by giving greater visibility to its young companies. On the other hand, it supports a dynamic sector constantly looking for new talent and thus creates new jobs.

A mantra drives this initiative: "Do everything to ensure that the next Google is born in France and stays there".

The French Tech is the ecosystem of French start-ups, so there are different actors that make it up. Entrepreneurs, of course, but also investors, decision-makers and community builders. All tech actors can be part of French Tech, there is no application form to submit.

Since its creation, the community has diversified and includes nine thematic networks: 

In 2019, the French Tech mission created two labels: the Next40 Label and the FT120 Label. 

Companies obtaining the Next40 label are considered to have the potential to become major players in the French and global tech market. Each year, the French government shares a list of 40 companies that make it into the ranking. Thanks to this label, French companies automatically gain visibility, as the ranking is shared by many French and international media. 

The FT120 Label lists companies that are considered to be scale-ups. The 120 companies on this list are all in the hyper-growth phase and are the potential next unicorns. In 2022, the French tech sector reached a new milestone by reaching a total of 25 unicorns in various fields such as robotics or fintech.

How long has Yubo been part of the French Tech? 

Yubo has been part of French Tech since its creation, as it is a French company. However, it is only since 2021 that Yubo has been part of the Next40/FT120 ranking. We are very proud to have been included in this ranking which shows that our community is still growing with more than 60 million users in 140 different countries.

Why is it important for Yubo to be part of French Tech?

The French Tech represents an incredible opportunity for French start-ups, it is a place of exchange and sharing. At Yubo, we are happy to have access to this unique ecosystem, which allows us to learn a lot and pushes us to constantly improve. 

By being a member of the French Tech, there is a real recognition of the work we have done and an understanding of the challenges we face as a start-up. 

Finally, thanks to the French Tech, we benefit from increased visibility, but above all, we participate in a global movement that puts French innovations at the forefront of the international scene.

Does the French Tech have an impact abroad?

Yes, the French Tech has an impact abroad as many international cities have received the label. These effects are therefore felt on the one hand in France, by fighting against the brain drain, but also internationally, by attracting talent from foreign countries to the French market.

Before the initiatives were put into place by the French Tech, foreign workers found it difficult to settle or work in France. On the one hand because of the language barrier, but also mainly because of the complexity of the French administrative system. 

To facilitate this process, the French Tech launched a French Tech visa, allowing people wanting to work for a French Tech company to easily complete all their formalities in just one month.

Are there similar initiatives in other countries? 

Tech is a strategic sector in Europe, and therefore there are many other initiatives to support start-ups. 

Institutions such as the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the European Investment Bank actively support tech companies. More recently, the European Commission launched Scale-Up Europe. An initiative that brings together more than 300 start-up founders, investors, researchers and companies to support the development of ten tech giants, each valued at over €100 billion. 

In addition to these European initiatives, there are also more local initiatives, notably in the following countries 

In February 2023, Poland announced that the public fund PFR Ventures had invested €55 million in four venture capital funds, which are committed to supporting Polish start-ups specialising in technologies that address climate challenges and promote the energy transition. This initiative is the first of its kind in Europe.

Bulgaria is one of the latest countries to launch its start-up visa. This allows entrepreneurs to benefit from accelerated immigration procedures if they work in the tech sector. This type of visa has been implemented a lot more over the last few years, you can find the full list of countries that offer it here. 

Along with Croatia, North Macedonia is the first Balkan country to deploy a nationwide digital ID. With this document, Macedonian citizens can obtain documents online from public institutions, open a new bank account remotely or obtain a telephone subscription. 

Digital IDs are an important step for the pan-European development of start-ups, as they allow companies to obtain documents remotely and also to speed up administrative procedures (and reduce costs). 

These initiatives are mainly European, as this is Yubo's home market, but there are similar ones all over the world. So if you are interested, don't hesitate to ask your government or the country you want to move to.

Yubo and French Tech

Yubo and the French Tech

If you’ve been swiping on Yubo today, you've probably come across our latest in-app campaign to introduce you to the National Center for Missing, and Exploited Children (NCMEC)’s new Take It Down service and the new reporting option on Yubo. At Yubo, the safety of our users is our top priority, so we are constantly finding new ways to make Yubo as safe as possible. We are fortunate to have the support and expertise of our partners, and this new feature is a perfect example. So if you want to know more about this new service and Yubo’s added reporting feature, welcome!

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) is a non-profit organization founded in 1984 by the U.S. Congress. NCMEC is funded primarily by the U.S. Department of Justice. It operates as an information and resources center for parents, children, law enforcement agencies, schools, and communities to assist in the recovery of missing children. Its mission is also to educate the public on how to prevent child abduction, child sexual abuse, and child pornography.

How long have NCMEC and Yubo been partners?

NCMEC is a longterm partner of Yubo’s. We have been working together since July 2018. John Shehan, the Senior Vice President of NCMEC, is also a member of our Safety Board and offers his expertise and guidance for our strategies and approaches to safety, as well as the development of new safety features. We are fortunate to be able to rely on his experience to make Yubo even safer for all our users.

To continue its fight to protect young people online, NCMEC has launched a new service called Take It Down. This service is free and aims to stop the spread of nude, partially nude, or sexually exploitative content depicting minors. It is inspired in particular by StopNCII.org in the UK, which supports and helps victims of revenge porn.

How can I use the new Yubo feature developed with NCMEC?

To support this initiative and continue to protect with the best possible innovations, Yubo has decided to add a new option to its reporting flow. Any user, whose sexually inappropriate imagery of themselves taken before the age of 18 has been shared anywhere on the internet, can now report it by selecting “Inappropriate photo/video of me” in the reporting reasons list. If a user selects this option,  they will receive a link that will direct them to the Take It Down website, where they can submit an anonymous report.  

Yubo & NCMEC - a new reporting flow

How will Yubo know which image to remove? 

Once reported via NCMEC's Take It Down service, all images or videos will be assigned a unique hash value. This hash value works like a digital fingerprint and allows the content to be tracked and identified across other online platforms. All platforms participating in the initiative (including Yubo) will receive this hash value, which will allow them to identify and block any attempt to share the reported content.

Are you going to collect the photos that I am going to share with you? 

No photos or videos will be collected during the process, and the entire system is completely anonymous. Take It Down, and its partner platforms only receive the hash value to effectively block re-upload imagery attempts. 

Your privacy and anonymity are guaranteed at all stages of the Take It Down service. And what’s more, to avoid further spread of the imagery, you do not need to send the video or photo you wish to have removed – it will never need to leave your device, and it will never be seen by another person.

At Yubo, safety is at the center of every decision we make, and we are constantly working to make the platform as safe as possible. So it only made sense for us to collaborate with NCMEC and be part of a key step in this mission to eradicate CSAM online. 

With 99% of Yubo users being Gen Z ages 13-25, they may be vulnerable to practices such as revenge porn and nude photo sharing. It is important to us that we block all non-consensual use of sexually exploitative photos and videos on Yubo, and we have many advanced tools and practices in place to detect this type of harmful content. Take It Down will add yet another layer of safety and protection for our users while socializing on Yubo.

Is NCMEC’s Take It Down service available in my country?

Yes! Currently, the service is available globally in English and Spanish, and it is expected to be translated into 10+ more languages in the coming months. While Take It Down is available everywhere, the added reporting option on Yubo is currently only available for US users.

If my photos or videos have been shared without my consent, where can I find support?

Always report any inappropriate content immediately to Yubo, and our 24/7 Safety Specialists will be able to help. They are always on hand to support you in removing inappropriate content and to help make Yubo as safe as possible. However, having your private images exposed can cause significant psychological distress, and we will always advise you to contact a trusted person or a specialist to discuss and support you through this.

Below you will find some NGOs that will be ready to listen and assist you.

Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse (International)

And please remember, there are many people here to support you. You are not alone, and you do not have to be ashamed of having been a victim of online crime.

Yubo's new reporting feature in partnership with NCMEC

When we think of social media we think of opening an app and seeing what other people are up to. We think of scrolling through a feed twice curated, once by the posters and twice by the platform, creating a certain mirage of lifestyles and depictions through various types of content. That is what we think of first. Secondly, we might think of posting here and there if we have a photogenic moment or other experience to share. Or perhaps you take social media and content creation seriously, so you spend hours creating content that is in line with the vibe you want to portray. Then you post it and hope it performs well. You hope other people see it, engage with it, and share it – and if you’re lucky, it goes viral. But for the most part, our feeds are full of influencers, celebrities, brands or other huge pages or creators who do this full-time.

While social media’s origins were synonymous with its name, it has evolved into something quite different. To generalize, the better name for modern social media might be “parasocial media.” In case you don’t know what a parasocial relationship is, it is one that is “one-sided.” The best example of this is celebrities and their fans. We all love Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and we feel like we know him, meanwhile, he doesn’t know most of us exist. It would be impossible for him to. Robin Dunbar, a British anthropologist, believes that humans can only maintain about 150 connections at one time. Modern scientists tend to agree with his theory, so how can Dwayne know all 357 million of his followers (on Instagram alone)? He can’t and that’s okay.

Now let me ask you this, does any of that sound social? Not really, huh? This isn’t a reason to stop using social media, nor should you feel shorted from your online interactions and experiences. Social media has changed the world and created a lot of opportunities for many. It has changed journalism and news, it has held many accountable, given many a voice, made many people laugh, sparked creativity, broadened our horizons, made people feel less alone, and so much more. It just feels a bit hokey calling it “social” media when it is barely social anymore. There are apps that focus on putting the “social” back in social media, like Yubo. But the larger apps we think of when prompted with “social media” consists of scrolling through content, liking, and occasionally sharing a post or two. That is simply a shallow social interaction, it is all second-hand. In that instance, the only interaction that happens is the occasional DM or engaging in comments if you happen to get a reply.

So, what if you want to actually use social media to socialize? You’re in luck, all you need to do is actually interact with other people, not just their content. That’s what socializing is, isn’t it? The act of interacting with others. Not to brag, but this is where Yubo shines. 

Yubo was created to give people a place to socialize again, so much so that the app is solely dedicated to it. But this article is not all about Yubo. Here are two ways you can actually use social media to socialize.

What is Yubo?

The first one may seem like a given, but it is the easiest and most fun way to interact with others online. Message people. It sounds simple, but most users rarely even leave comments. It can always be awkward “sliding into someone’s DMs,” but it’s necessary if you want to meet new friends or even stay in touch with old ones. Plus, social media does a great job at showcasing people's interests… because that's often where people go to express them. For example, if you see someone has the “photography” tag in their Yubo profile, why not ask them if they prefer film or digital photography. Or maybe someone is passionate about fitness, they might have a workout tip or two to share. The best part is that not only do you get the pleasure of getting to know someone and potentially learn new things, but you also get the chance to forge a new friendship. One of the biggest benefits to messaging is its convenience. You can send a message any time of the day or night and it will be there until the other person opens it. This is a huge advantage for international relationships. Bonus: Yubo makes finding people with similar interests easy by filtering swipes through tags, so go ahead and check it out.

Another great way to socialize online is through live streaming. This is the closest thing to socializing in real life, which can be pretty impactful. While texting is fun and convenient, actually speaking to someone else, especially if you can see their face, simply feels better. It’s more fulfilling and can lead to some truly amazing relationships. Whether you are forming a new one or maintaining one, livestream interactions are a great way to connect with other people. Yubo specializes in this with its Live feature. On Yubo you can hang out with your friends in a livestream or you can use this to meet new people, it is entirely up to you. There are smaller Lives, which are chiller hangouts with a few friends, and on the other end of the spectrum, there are large Lives which range from rants, debates, talent shows, dance parties, to just creating new friendships in creative ways and everything in between.

Because of this, at Yubo, we like to think of ourselves as a social social media platform.

When we think of social media we think of opening an app and seeing what other people are up to. We think of scrolling through a feed twice curated, once by the posters and twice by the platform, creating a certain mirage of lifestyles and depictions through various types of content. So, what if you want to actually use social media to socialize? Let's find out!

Yubo's Take

Here for all of it.