DEEP DIVE

YUBO is a free app that allows people to video chat or direct message with friends or strangers. Users can watch or join public group video chat streams and swipe through potential matches in their area. It is similar to apps like Monkey and Bigo Live.

Three French former engineering students created YUBO, formerly called Yellow. The app boasts over 20 million users worldwide.

YUBO is free with additional features available via in-app purchases and subscriptions. Ads appear within the app.

Is It A Dating App?

Some critics have dubbed YUBO as “Tinder for teens” because of how it uses location-based swiping for users to meet strangers. Although it is not explicitly a dating app, people often use it to look for romantic or sexual partners.

Although nudity is not allowed, interactions on the app can be sexually suggestive. There have been multiple reports of people, including underage girls, being asked to send nudes to strangers. It is common for people to meet on YUBO to then connect on Snapchat or other social networking sites.

Safety & Privacy

Apple’s App Store suggests that the app should only be downloaded by people ages 17 and up, but YUBO allows anyone age 13+ to use the app. Users may be exposed to sexual content, suggestive themes, crude language or humor, and drug and alcohol use. Age verification is based on the honor system so someone could easily lie about their age. Notably, YUBO provides no barriers between underage and adult users.

YUBO collects user information including location, mobile number, name, date of birth, and a profile photo. According to the app’s developers, Twelve App, this information is solely for internal use. Read the full privacy policy here.

The location-based swipe feature within the app lists locations by country and city without any more public identifying information.