Yubo is set to enhance safety and engagement for young adults in the digital space, with Sharone Franco leading legal and public policy.
In a significant move for online safety, Sharone Franco, Yubo’s head of legal and public policy, has joined the board of directors of the Tech Coalition. This appointment reiterates the live social discovery app’s commitment to safeguarding its users, predominantly Gen Z, by collaborating with industry leaders from platforms like TikTok, Meta, and Google. Franco is at the forefront of Yubo’s efforts to create a safer digital environment for young users.
“This appointment marks a significant step forward in Yubo’s efforts to lead the industry in creating a secure online environment,” said Sacha Lazimi, CEO and co-founder of the live social discovery app. “Together with the Tech Coalition, Yubo is committed to leveraging its platform and resources to make meaningful advancements in child protection and online safety.”
Yubo is designed to help Gen Z make new friends and engage in real-time interactions. Unlike traditional social media platforms focusing on likes and followers, Yubo emphasizes genuine connections and real-time communication. Social discovery is about meeting new people and forming friendships based on shared interests rather than maintaining connections with existing acquaintances.
Franco’s appointment to the Tech Coalition board and her experience in data protection and cybersecurity positions her to advocate for safer digital environments. At the Tech Coalition, Franco will collaborate with industry leaders to address the most pressing online safety risks facing minors today. Her work will involve developing and implementing strategies to combat online child exploitation.
In addition to Franco, the Tech Coalition 2024 board of directors includes Ethan Arenson from Verizon as chair, Antigone Davis from Meta as treasurer, Josh Parecki from Zoom as secretary, Chengos Lim from Roblox, Emily Cashman Kirstein from Google, Kristine Dorrain from Amazon, Lili Nguyen from TikTok, and Liz Thomas from Microsoft.
Yubo’s membership in the coalition underscores the importance of industry collaboration in tackling online safety challenges. The Tech Coalition’s initiatives, such as the Lantern program, exemplify the collaborative efforts needed to enhance child safety online.
According to the Tech Coalition Lantern Transparency Report 2023, it welcomed seven new member companies, bringing the total to 37. Notably, 35 of its 37 members enhanced their capabilities to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse, meeting key milestones in five critical areas. The adoption of image and video-based hashing technologies, which creates a digital footprint unique to the content, increased for the second consecutive year, with 57% of members now using machine learning classifiers to detect previously unknown images of child sexual abuse material.
Representatives from 26 member companies attended an industry briefing on generative artificial intelligence in December, and the year ended with 12 companies participating in the Lantern program. The second annual hackathon, Initiate, saw over 30 engineers from 13 member companies and partner Thorn engaging in collaborative working sessions. Additionally, the Coalition piloted Thorn’s grooming classifier with four members to enhance platform policies for online child safety. Throughout the year, 11 webinars were hosted on threat landscapes, detection technologies, generative AI, user reporting design, and transparency reporting. Of the 13 projects funded by the Tech Coalition Safe Online Research Fund in 2021, five were completed in 2023, and an additional $1 million was announced to support this fund further, according to the 2023 report.
Yubo’s Safety Measures
Yubo’s safety measures are integrated into the platform’s design, ensuring a secure as possible environment for its users. The live social discovery app has partnered with Yoti, a leading digital identity solution provider, to implement comprehensive age verification measures. Such measures ensure that users accurately represent their age, which is crucial for maintaining a safe environment for young users.
Advanced AI and machine learning algorithms can be used to detect and mitigate harmful behaviors. Yubo’s AI systems seek to proactively identify inappropriate content, including visual, textual, and audio materials, preventing potential harm before it escalates.
The live social discovery app is committed to educating its users about online safety. The platform includes features like pop-up notifications that warn users against sharing personal information in private chats, promoting safer interactions.
Yubo collaborates with respected organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Thorn, and The Diana Award to refine its safety features continuously. The Yubo-AFNOR Spec reference document, developed with the Association Française de Normalisation, sets a new standard for online safety protocols and has been awarded the Trophée Or’Normes prize for Trusted and Responsible Digitization.
Evolution of the Live Social Discovery App
In 2024, Yubo is evolving alongside its primary user base. Initially focused on teenagers, Yubo now caters to young adults aged 18 to 25, who make up 80% of its users. This shift reflects the growing maturity of its audience and their changing needs. As part of this transformation, Yubo is undergoing a brand refresh to better align with its more mature audience.
The refresh highlights the platform’s commitment to providing young adults with a safe and engaging space. Yubo is introducing new features tailored to its older users. These include professional networking opportunities, educational content, and events catering to young adults’ interests, such as career advice, mental health support, and financial literacy. Yubo’s transformation also involves deeper community engagement. The platform enhances its tools for creating and joining interest-based groups, enabling users to connect over shared hobbies, professional goals, and personal interests.
Yubo’s proactive approach to online safety and commitment to evolving alongside its user base positions it as a leader in the social discovery space. As Yubo continues to grow and adapt, its dedication to user safety remains unwavering, ensuring its platform remains a trusted space for genuine connections and meaningful interactions.
