Yubo, previously known as Yellow, is a social media app that has been gaining popularity in recent years, allowing users to create live video streams and chat with others.
It is marketed as a “Tinder-style” social networking app, but unfortunately, it has become a popular platform for explicit content, including sexual content and cyberbullying. Beyond content, the app has a reputation as a hub for online predators, making it an unsafe app for kids.
Who is Yubo for?
Yubo split its app into two versions after issues arose regarding adults and kids interacting with each other. There are two versions of the app: one for teens aged 13-17 and another for 18 and older. Roughly 99% of users fall within the 13-25 age range. However, while they have rolled out an age estimator, there is no age verification process. This means that young people can join the adult version, and older people can join the teen version.
Dangers of Yubo
While Yubo may seem harmless at first glance, there are several dangers associated with the app that parents should be aware of.
Predators
Predators have been drawn to Yubo due to the main users being underage, as well as the lack of content filtering and proper age verification. Using private messaging, they are able to target children and exchange explicit messages and pictures. They’ve also been found to use the live stream function to groom underage kids, including coercing them to perform sexualized acts. Yubo does attempt to group users together based on age, but for users creating fake accounts, the grouping falls short of keeping predators away from kids.
Cyberbullying
Like other social media platforms, Yubo can also be a breeding ground for cyberbullying. Users can send and receive messages, which can be used to bully or harass others. Additionally, the app’s “swipe left or right” format can make users feel rejected or left out if they don’t receive many matches.
Inappropriate Content
After being the center of many news articles involving violent messages and other inappropriate content, Yubo has put some content filtering in place, but the app is still considered largely unregulated. This severe lack of safety features leaves users vulnerable to being exposed to explicit content.
What parents need to know If your child is using Yubo, it’s important to have an open and honest conversation with them about the dangers associated with the app. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Parenting Tips with Yubo
Monitor your child’s use of Yubo and other social media apps. Set limits on the amount of time they can spend on these apps and consider using parental controls to restrict certain features.
Talk to them about privacy
Make sure your child understands the importance of keeping their personal information private. Encourage them to only connect with people they know in real life and to avoid sharing their location with strangers.
Discuss the dangers of online predators
Talk to your child about the dangers of predators lurking on online platforms and the importance of reporting any suspicious activity to you or to the app’s moderators.
Teach them how to handle cyberbullying
Make sure your child knows how to handle cyberbullying. Encourage them to talk to you or another trusted adult if they are being bullied online. You can also show them how to block and report users who are engaging in bullying behavior.
Consider a Kid-safe Phone
If kids are exposed to too much, too soon, it’s difficult to slow down the flood of content they can be exposed to. Additionally, monitoring apps can be a good option, but monitoring what your child is doing is a reactive measure, and only allows you, as a parent, to address things they’ve already been exposed to.
Gabb was created to offer kid-safe devices that don’t have access to the internet, social media, or app stores, and are a great way to help get your child tech-ready in steps that work for them. Check out Gabb Phones and Watches to see if they’re a fit for your kid.
Author Josh Ruggles
Josh is Gabb’s Director of Content. He is a husband and father of two who jumped at the chance to work with Gabb after looking for a less addictive device for his daughter’s first phone. Before Gabb, Josh told stories for Skullcandy, 3M, and Pluralsight and has been published in multiple action sports magazines, including Snowboard Magazine and Arkade Magazine.
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