#None #Social Discovery #Yubo Platform #Gen Z Adults

Yubo's Major Transition to an 18+ Platform

In a decisive move reflecting the evolution of its user base, Yubo, the trailblazer in social discovery platforms, has revealed that it will raise its minimum user age to 18 years. This change, effective from November 1, 2025, underscores Yubo’s commitment to catering specifically to the needs of young adults. Founded in 2015, Yubo has successfully navigated its growth alongside Generation Z, transforming from a teen-centric app to a platform aimed at adults over the past decade.

CEO and co-founder Sacha Lazimi expressed the importance of this transition, stating, "Since our launch 10 years ago, Yubo's core demographic has grown up – from young teens to young adults. Therefore, it’s crucial for us as a platform to evolve alongside them." This transition comes as a response to recent user demographics, where individuals aged 18 and older now make up a significant portion of the platform's audience.

A survey conducted within the app highlighted the community's desire for Yubo to cater exclusively to young adults, with 92% of respondents advocating for this shift. Lazimi further elaborated that this allows Yubo to focus on a single audience with clarity and intent, rather than splitting resources over divergent age groups.

This strategic repositioning is made possible by Yubo’s robust age verification systems, which have set a high standard for online safety. In 2022, Yubo was the first major social media platform to implement age assurance protocols for all users. These measures include facial age estimation technology during sign-up, followed by manual ID verification conducted by Safety Specialists when necessary. The approach ensures that the platform not only remains compliant with safety measures but also provides a trusted environment for its users.

In alignment with this new direction, product updates slated for the coming months aim to enhance user experience. These updates will enable users to customize profiles more extensively, facilitate better control over group livestream interactions, and introduce optional geolocation settings for those looking to expand their local connections. While these features are designed to augment the user experience, Yubo continues to prioritize authentic social interactions, whether connecting users nearby or across the globe.

Margaux Liquard, Head of Trust & Safety at Yubo, emphasized the platform’s ongoing commitment to safety, noting, "Our core values around online safety innovation and user trust remain unchanged. The safety-by-design foundation that has enabled the Yubo journey since 2015 continues to shape our decisions today."

The transition to an 18+ community will not happen overnight. It began gradually in early 2025, targeting users aged 13 to 15 first. With this demographic slightly under 5% of Yubo's total user base, the process was smooth. Notifications began by informing the younger users of the upcoming changes, followed by the deactivation of accounts for users aged 16 to 17, proceeding on a country-by-country basis until all necessary adjustments were completed by October 29, 2025.

To ensure a seamless transition, Yubo encourages deactivated users to return once they reach 18 and complete the age verification process. In accordance with data protection standards, accounts that have been inactive for more than two years will be permanently removed, ensuring that user data remains secure.

For those interested in understanding more about the implications of this shift and Yubo's future direction, a letter from CEO Sacha Lazimi is available on the Yubo blog, detailing the company's vision for engaging with Gen Z adults. As Yubo evolves into this new chapter of connectivity and social discovery, it remains dedicated to fostering a safe environment for its users.

Summary

This transition marks an essential evolution in the social discovery landscape, reflecting broader trends within social media platforms to cater to maturing user bases. The decision underscores Yubo’s recognized position in the digital space, ensuring that it remains relevant and responsive to its users’ needs through the years to come.