Is Yubo Made by Snapchat? The Truth About This Social App [2025 Guide]

Is Yubo made by Snapchat? Many people believe this connection exists, but French engineering students created Yubo in 2015 as a companion app for Snapchat. The platform has grown into its own success story and now reaches 60 million users worldwide. Yubo’s user base consists almost entirely of young people, with 99% of users between 13-25 years old.

The Origins of Yubo: Separating Fact from Fiction

The story of Yubo starts with three ambitious engineering students from France. Many people think Snapchat created Yubo, but that’s not true, despite their close ties in the digital world.

Who actually created Yubo?

Three visionaries founded Yubo in France in 2015: Sacha Lazimi, Jérémie Aouate, and Arthur Patora. These bright minds studied engineering at prestigious schools – CentraleSupélec Graduate school of Paris-Saclay University and Télécom Paris.

Their trip to creating Yubo wasn’t simple. Lazimi and Aouate tried different ideas about ten years ago while studying at Université Paris Dauphine. They launched several projects before hitting success:

• A platform called “Saloon” – a simple anonymous group chatbot for university students
• An app that connected users with one person daily for networking, sports, or friendship
• The concept that would become Yubo

“We decided to start with a problem instead of starting with an idea,” explained Lazimi. “This problem is that we noticed that millions of people are showing their Snapchat username to make new friends on Snapchat. We wanted to understand why”.

The Snapchat connection explained

Yubo and Snapchat are separate companies, though many think otherwise. Yubo’s official FAQ states clearly: “No, Yubo is not connected to Snapchat”. This mix-up happens for two main reasons.

Yubo started as a companion app to help people find friends on Snapchat’s platform. The founders built their original version after seeing people share their Snapchat usernames on social media to connect with others.

The two companies maintain strategic collaborations. Yubo integrated Snap’s Camera Kit tool in December 2020, which lets users access Snapchat Lenses during livestreams. Users sometimes see a small watermark that says “powered by Snapchat” when using certain filters.

Their relationship centers on technology partnerships rather than ownership. Since 2017, Yubo has used Snapchat’s advertising solutions, showing strong business ties between both companies.

How Yubo evolved from Yellow

The app launched as “Yellow” in 2015. This original version helped users make Snapchat connections. Lazimi described their early strategy: “We managed to get all the Snapchat usernames that were shared online. We added those people on Snapchat, saying, ‘Hey, there is an app called Yubo and you can make friends on it instead of sharing your username on Twitter'”.

The platform went through a major transformation. Yellow became Yubo – more than just a new name. This change helped separate the app from dating platforms and better showed its true purpose.

The numbers tell an impressive story. Between 2015 and 2019, Yubo aided about 2 billion friendships and enabled 10 billion messages. By 2022, over 60 million users worldwide joined the platform. Generation Z (13-25 years old) makes up 99% of its user base.

Yubo now stands as a social discovery platform in more than 140 countries. Lazimi says their mission focuses on “creating a space where young people are enabled to socialize and create friendships in a safe environment”.

What is Yubo? Understanding the App’s Core Purpose

Yubo has emerged as a unique player in the digital world of 2025. This platform has caught millions of young users’ attention worldwide. Let’s break down what makes this app special and why its growing community cares about it.

The social discovery platform explained

Yubo helps users make new friends online through its live social discovery app. Most social networks connect you with people you know, but Yubo helps you find new friends worldwide. Users can connect right away through:

• Live streaming with multiple participants
• Swipe features to find new connections
• Chat functions for direct communication
• Interactive games for shared experiences

Yubo stands out from other social media platforms because it removes approval metrics like likes and follows. Users can express themselves without worrying about popularity metrics.

The platform puts live interaction first. “On Yubo, life is live,” says the company. The experience feels more like hanging out with friends than creating a perfect online image.

Target audience and demographics

Yubo has become Gen Z’s go-to platform. The numbers tell the story – 99% of users are between 13 and 25 years old. The platform creators built it specifically for this generation.

The app reaches far and wide with 60 million users in more than 140 countries. The biggest communities are in:

1. The United States
2. The United Kingdom
3. France (where the app originated)

The Philippines, Australia, Canada, and Brazil also have large user bases. This worldwide community lets teens practice new languages and learn about different cultures firsthand.

Safety comes first for Yubo’s young users. The platform uses age verification systems to check profile authenticity and creates “age gates” that group users by age. This keeps 15-year-olds from chatting with 25-year-olds—just like real-life social boundaries.

How Yubo positions itself in the market

Yubo brands itself as “social social media”. The platform values genuine interaction over content consumption or influencer culture. CEO Sacha Lazimi states clearly: “We don’t have influencers”. Small groups of four to five people interact here, much like friends hanging out in a living room.

People sometimes call it “Tinder for teens” because of its swipe feature. In stark comparison to this, Yubo states clearly it “is not a dating app” but exists “to help Gen Z expand their social circles”.

The platform’s business approach sets it apart too. While other social platforms make money from ads and data collection, Yubo uses a freemium model. Users can buy YuBucks (the app’s virtual currency) to access premium features like boosting livestream visibility or seeing profile visitors. This lets Yubo avoid selling user data to advertisers.

CEO Lazimi explains Yubo’s core purpose: “Yubo is a response to a fundamental need of Generation Z socializing and creating friendships in the digital world in the same way as in real life”.

How Does Yubo Work? Key Features and Functionality

Yubo’s uniqueness in the digital world comes from four core features. Let me walk you through how this platform works, whether you want to create an account or connect with others.

Setting up a Yubo account

The first step to join Yubo starts with downloading the app and adding some simple information. You’ll need to:

• Add your name, birthdate, and gender
• Upload a recent photo of yourself (no pets or other images allowed)
• Pick a username
• Verify your phone number

Yubo makes age verification mandatory before anyone can use the platform. This helps keep teen (13-17) and adult (18+) communities separate. After verification, you can add interest tags about your hobbies to your profile, which makes finding friends with similar interests easier.

The swipe feature and making connections

Yubo uses a swiping system like in other social discovery apps to help you find new friends. Each profile shows:

• Display name and photos/videos
• A personal bio
• Interest tags and emojis
• Location (if you turn it on)

Swipe right on profiles you like and left on those you want to skip. Two people become friends when they both swipe right on each other’s profiles. This feature helps you grow your social circle based on common interests rather than dating.

Premium “powers” can improve your swipe experience. These include “Fast Adds” to send multiple friend requests at once, “Turbo” to boost your profile visibility, and “See Who Added You” to check who’s already swiped right on you.

Live streaming capabilities

Live streaming is at the heart of Yubo. You can go live with up to 10 friends on camera or microphone while unlimited viewers can join through comments.

During livestreams, you can:

• Play virtual games like charades, Pictionary, or “Would You Rather”
• Share your screen and watch videos together
• Use Snapchat lenses (through Snap’s Camera Kit)
• Chat with viewers and add them as friends

The platform creates real-life-like interactions through small group engagement. Yubo stands out with its continuous, live moderation of livestreams – an innovative safety feature in the industry.

Location sharing options

Yubo’s location features help you find nearby friends while keeping privacy in mind. Users under 18 start with location settings turned off. If you choose to share your location:

Your country stays visible on your profile A “Hide My City” toggle in privacy settings can hide your city Swipe settings let you see people from your country first, worldwide, or just your country

The app gives you three main location choices for swiping: your country first, worldwide, or your country only. With “country first,” you decide the maximum distance to show other users.

Yubo only uses your location while you’re using the app. Most features work perfectly fine even with location sharing turned off.

Yubo vs. Snapchat: Key Similarities and Differences

Many people ask “is yubo made by snapchat?” The answer lies in their business partnership. These platforms work separately but share some interesting features that set them apart in social networking.

Communication styles compared

Yubo and Snapchat take different paths when it comes to user interaction. Yubo puts live interaction at its core through group video chat rooms where multiple users can join in at once. Snapchat takes a different route. It lets users exchange private messages and stories that disappear over time.

The yubo app lets users connect with new people through livestreaming. Users can broadcast with up to 10 friends at once. Snapchat works differently. It helps users keep in touch with people they already know through quick picture messages. Users can find strangers who share their interests on Yubo, but Snapchat connects people who already know each other. Both apps value pictures over words. They just use them in different ways.

Privacy settings and data handling

These platforms handle user data and privacy quite differently. Yubo protects its users through several features:

• Age verification to keep teens and adults separate
• Options to show only your country, not your city
• Settings that turn off location tracking completely

Snapchat built its name on messages that vanish after viewing. The apps make money differently too. Snapchat depends on ads, while Yubo uses a freemium model and doesn’t sell user data to advertisers.

The partnership between Yubo and Snapchat focuses on tech sharing rather than data exchange. Yubo users can access Snapchat Lenses during their livestreams through Snap’s Camera Kit. About 15% of Yubo videos use these features, with users applying over 600,000 lenses each day.

Target audience overlap

Young people love both platforms, especially teens and young adults. Yubo speaks directly to Gen Z users looking to meet new people. The numbers show this clearly – 99% of its users fall between 13-25 years old.

Teens flock to these apps because they’re casual and fun. Both platforms let users communicate right away through pictures instead of long text messages.

The apps serve the same age group but fill different needs. Yubo helps people expand their social circle, while Snapchat keeps friends connected. This key difference explains why many people use both apps – they each serve a unique purpose in users’ social lives.

Safety Concerns: What Parents Need to Know About Yubo

Parents should know how Yubo protects their teens on the platform. The app has several safety layers that make it stand out from other platforms, though no social app is completely risk-free.

Age verification processes

Yubo leads the social media industry as the first major platform that requires age verification for all its users. The platform uses Yoti’s age estimation technology to verify users through a real-time photo taken in the app. This technology analyzes the image to estimate age and checks it against the user’s provided birthdate.

A “liveness algorithm” ensures users submit genuine photos rather than screenshots from other sources. Users get access once their estimated age matches their profile. The platform requires government-issued ID for additional verification when it finds age discrepancies.

Content moderation approaches

Yubo takes a comprehensive approach to content moderation:

• Immediate audio and video monitoring of livestreams—a trailblazing feature in social media
• AI algorithms scan text and flag potential violations
• Safety Specialists work around the clock to step in when needed
• Educational pop-ups warn users who try to share sensitive information

Users can also control their experience with the “Muted Words” feature that blocks specific words, emojis, or phrases they find uncomfortable.

Common risks for teen users

The platform faces similar challenges that exist in social media platforms:

• Bullying and harassment
• Exposure to hate speech
• Inappropriate content
• Potential scams
• Sexual exploitation

Research from Dublin City University shows 15-year-olds make up the largest user group on Yubo. These teens tend to take more risks than users of other ages.

How to report inappropriate behavior

The platform makes reporting problematic content simple:

1. Look for the shield icon with an exclamation mark on a user’s profile
2. Choose “Report” and select the right category
3. Add more details and media evidence if needed
4. Send the report to safety specialists for review

Yubo responds to valid reports with actions ranging from warnings to content removal. The platform may also issue temporary or permanent bans based on the violation’s severity.

Conclusion

Yubo’s partnership with Snapchat shows its special place in social media. These platforms work independently, but their collaboration improves the user experience by adding Snapchat Lenses to livestreams.

Safety is at the heart of Yubo’s operations. The platform uses up-to-the-minute moderation, age checks, and straightforward reporting tools that distinguish it from other social networks. Parents who worry about online safety can trust these protective features.

Yubo gives Gen Z users a fresh alternative that focuses on real connections without the stress of counting likes or followers. The platform stands out because it values genuine interactions over content creation and influencer culture. This makes Yubo a true platform to find new friends and connections.

FAQs

Q1. Who created Yubo and what is its connection to Snapchat? 

Yubo was created in 2015 by three French engineering students: Sacha Lazimi, Jérémie Aouate, and Arthur Patora. While Yubo is not owned by Snapchat, the two companies have a strategic partnership, allowing Yubo users to access Snapchat Lenses during livestreams.

Q2. What age group is Yubo designed for?

 Yubo is primarily designed for Generation Z users, with 99% of its user base between 13-25 years old. The app implements age verification and separation to ensure appropriate interactions within different age groups.

Q3. How does Yubo differ from other social media platforms? 

Yubo focuses on live social discovery and making new connections, rather than content creation or maintaining existing relationships. It emphasizes real-time interactions through features like group video chats and doesn’t use traditional metrics like likes or follower counts.

Q4. Is Yubo safe for teenagers to use?

 Yubo has implemented several safety measures, including mandatory age verification, real-time content moderation, and clear reporting systems. However, as with any social platform, risks still exist, and parental guidance is recommended.

Q5. Can you actually make friends on Yubo? 

Yes, Yubo is designed specifically for making new friends and expanding social circles. Users can connect with others who share similar interests through features like live streaming, swiping, and interactive games, facilitating genuine social interactions in a digital environment.