Social media interactions have now become a staple of the digital landscape. Users across the globe frequently check in with family and friends. Businesses maintain social media pages to cultivate relationships with their customers and followers. Some users spend hours online daily, toggling between social media platforms and posting lightning-fast updates. With the overriding focus on social media, the relatively unknown “social discovery” concept has largely stayed under the radar. Paris-based Yubo, a premier Gen Z live social discovery platform, details this global trend’s role in the digital arena.  Yubo also highlights the distinctive features that help it stand out from social media platforms.

Social Discovery Platforms Promote More Authentic Connections

The concept of social discovery involves making connections based on both parties’ shared goals and interests. The idea is to build relationships based on common ground. This increasingly popular trend stems from a growing desire for human connection in the midst of a technology-fueled world. In 2024, users are less likely to seek these connections on “one size fits all” social media networks. Stated another way, many users aren’t interested in competing with posts that showcase pet photos and restaurant meal pictures. Instead, these users gravitate to platforms that promote authenticity and engagement with like-minded individuals. On social discovery platforms, users can chat about a common culture, a shared hobby, similar music interests, or love of a favorite food. These freewheeling conversations help promote bonding and build more solid online relationships. Certain social platforms, such as Yubo, curate their audiences so that same-aged users are placed in the same chat room. This increases the chances of common ground, as individuals of the same age typically have similar beliefs and priorities. This age-gating practice also helps promote online user safety.

Social Discovery Ramped Up During the Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread lockdowns meant millions of social media users were suddenly deprived of their normal face-to-face interactions. With a deep need for human connection, they began to spend long hours on social media platforms. Previously casual chats often evolved into highly personal online friendships. Niche social platforms began to thrive, as users embraced opportunities to meet others with similar mindsets and interests. The addition of messaging and video interactions helped to enhance these conversations. Not surprisingly, live social discovery app Yubo greatly expanded its reach during the pandemic. Today, this rapidly growing platform has over 140 million Gen Z users in more than 60 countries. These technologically savvy teens and young adults collectively have their own worldview and communication style.

How Yubo Stands Out in the Social Universe

The Yubo live social discovery app offers a refreshing change from metrics-focused social media platforms. Established in 2015, the globally popular Yubo app encourages online friendships between Gen Zers with similar backgrounds, interests, and goals. Yubo offers multiple user connection opportunities, and users across the globe continue to jump on board. For perspective, Yubo differs from social media platforms in two ways.

Yubo Focuses on Making New Connections

Many social media platforms bring together users who already know and/or follow each other. Finding others with similar mindsets, interests, and/or goals isn’t always an easy task. Joining a similar-interest group doesn’t necessarily promote quality engagements with other members. These groups are often fraught with interpersonal squabbles and chats that drift off into irrelevant tangents. In contrast, Yubo invites same-aged users across the globe to connect in a welcoming online space. Every day, countless teens and young adults learn about others’ cultures, interests, and personal goals. As long as users follow the Yubo Community Guidelines, they are free to engage on a wide variety of intriguing topics.

Yubo Places a Priority on Authenticity

Numerous social media apps emphasize “Likes” and “Follows.” This frequently causes users to create idealized versions of themselves. As a result, they often rack up metrics that don’t honestly reflect who they are. This can cause emotional distress, especially for teens still learning to navigate self-image and relationship issues. That’s where Yubo is different. The platform’s leaders place a high value on authenticity, and every feature is designed to encourage honest user engagement. With no “Likes” or “Follows,” users can happily show their true personalities. In fact, Yubo’s wildly popular live streams (or “Lives”) invite them to do exactly that. And instead of worrying about the metrics, users can delve deeply into others’ stories. These exchanges often create an appreciation of other cultures and perspectives ─ and that’s the first step in cultivating sincere online relationships.

Yubo Users Have Multiple Ways to Connect

Finding others with similar interests opens the door to rewarding friendships. On the Yubo platform, that’s an easy task with the app’s profile tag feature. Today, more than six million Yubo users have clicked and tapped their way to new online friends. While creating a platform profile, each Yubo user can choose specific topic tags. On the flip side, adding these tags means they’ll appear in other users’ searches for these identical interests.

Yubo Live Streams (or “Lives”)

Gen Z users across the globe continue to gravitate to Yubo live streams. Also known as “Lives,” these high-energy virtual get-togethers have quickly become the Yubo app’s most frequent communication medium. A “Live” event feels like a gathering of close friends. Each participant enjoys catching up on the latest trends and learning about other users’ lifestyles. During each Yubo “Live,” one to 10 users can stream at the same time. Even better, any number of users can pop in with their comments. Streamers often share details of their daily routines, display a personal talent, or contribute their opinion on current trends.

Private User Chats

Yubo makes it easy for its Gen Z users to engage in personal chats. To begin, two users create a friendship inside the Yubo app. Now, the friends can chat about wide-ranging topics of their choice. Of course, all conversations should follow the Yubo Community Guidelines. During the app signup process, all users agreed to comply with these guidelines.

Yubo’s Robust User Safety Program

Every Yubo platform user should enjoy safe online interactions with others. Toward this end, Yubo operates a five-pronged User Safety Program:

• Universal User Age Verification
• Dual-Purpose Age Gating Protocols
• Moderation of Live Stream Audio and Video
• Monitoring via Algorithms and Safety Specialists
• Guidance from the Respected Yubo Safety Board

Yubo’s Safety Board includes well-regarded international online safety experts. The Board helps to drive Yubo’s ongoing safety initiatives and provides guidance on specific user safety issues. Yubo also partners with other organizations and NGOs from varied countries. Together, the partners seek to enable safe online experiences for users of all ages.