Social discovery app Yubo partners up with various NGOs and governing agencies to support and promote safer online behaviors and experiences through tech innovation.
Mutually beneficial business partnerships enable both parties to expand their reach and appeal to new audiences. When both entities have a common goal, or share a commitment to the same cause, harnessing both sets of resources can amplify a message’s impact.
For years, live social discovery app Yubo has engaged in “win-win” partnerships with non-profit groups and non-governmental organizations (or NGOs). Here, Yubo highlights four key partnerships that help promote users’ safe online experiences.
The Yubo/e-Enfance/3018 Partnership
In 2017, Yubo’s Chief Operating Officer (or COO) first engaged with the Paris-based e-Enfance Association. This online safety-focused entity raises awareness of cyberbullying in every form, especially as it victimizes minors who use the Internet. The e-Enfance Association’s 3018 hotline serves French cyberviolence victims, offering a single access point for all young users’ digital issues. The organization also offers digital parenting support.
How the Collaboration Works
Yubo has synced the e-Enfance/3018 hotline with the Yubo app. If Yubo users experience any unsettling issues while engaging on the platform, the 3018 hotline is just a click or two away. In addition, a digital functionality can identify a user’s distress and will suggest contacting e-Enfance/3018 without delay.
As a backup, Yubo uses a dedicated iPad to deliver targeted notifications to the e-Enfance/3018 team. This streamlined process ensures that hotline associates can quickly address users’ time-sensitive concerns.
In 2024, Yubo and the e-Enfance Association continue to explore new collaborative opportunities. The partners are discussing ways to bring this mutually beneficial partnership to more regions and countries.
The Yubo Safety Board’s Experience
The Yubo Safety Board recently visited the company’s Paris headquarters. While onsite, Safety Board members accompanied the Yubo team on a visit to the e-Enfance Association’s offices. In a very productive meeting, both online safety groups exchanged valuable insights on ways to foster a safe online environment for all users.
The Yubo/INHOPE Partnership
In October 2023, Yubo formed a partnership with the INHOPE (International Hotline Operators of Europe) Network. INHOPE’s expansive European operation includes 52 hotlines in 48 nations.
Yubo announced its intention to support INHOPE’s efforts to fight the spread of online child sexual abuse images and other material. Yubo began its INHOPE outreach in 2021, cultivating a relationship built on a safety-forward foundation.
Snapshot of an INHOPE Report
In any INHOPE-served country, members of the public can anonymously report illegal online content via INHOPE’s dedicated hotline. INHOPE analysts also search for offending content, evaluating it in accordance with national and international law. When an analyst finds illegal content, they identify the appropriate internet service provider (or ISP).
If the content and hosting platform are in the same country, the hotline analyst notifies the ISP and national law enforcement entity. The ISP will quickly remove that content from the Internet. If the illegal content is hosted in another country, the analyst sends the report to the applicable hotline via INHOPE’s secure ICCAM platform.
The Yubo/NCMEC Partnership
In July 2018, Yubo established a partnership with the United States-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). This non-profit organization serves as a central resource and information center in the mission to help recover missing children. The NCMEC also educates the public on the prevention of child sexual abuse, child pornography, and child abduction.
The NCMEC’s “Take It Down” Service
In February 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children introduced its free “Take It Down” service. This functionality is designed to halt the online distribution of minor-specific content showing partially nude, nude, or sexually exploitative images. Yubo’s reporting flow now includes the “Take It Down” functionality.
Assume a Yubo user is aware of sexually inappropriate imagery of themselves, taken before age 18, that appears on the Internet. The user can report this issue by choosing “Inappropriate photo/video of me” in the reporting reasons menu. Next, they’ll receive a “Take It Down” website link that routes them to an anonymous report form.
The Hash Value’s Function
Once the user completes the reporting form, each image or video receives a distinct hash value (or digital fingerprint). This means the specific content is identifiable on other online venues. Every participating platform (including Yubo) sees the hash value, spurring associates to block subsequent attempts to share the content on the Internet.
Yubo emphasizes that the “Take It Down” report does not require the collection of any photos and/or videos. All participating platforms receive only the hash value ─ not the image itself. No one will ever see the actual photo or video.
Finally, Yubo’s trained Safety Specialists are standing by to help users with inappropriate content concerns. Working on a 24/7 basis, these associates are committed to helping Yubo provide users with a safe online experience.
The Yubo/The Diana Award Partnership
Yubo has long maintained a partnership with the UK-based The Diana Award. This recognized non-profit organization was founded in honor of the late Princess Diana of Wales. This much-loved global figure sincerely believed that young people had the power to change the world for the better.
The Diana Award regularly highlights young people, from 9 to 25 years old, who make contributions to improve others’ lives. Specifically, The Diana Award consistently promotes a wide-ranging anti-bullying program. The organization’s goal is to encourage young people to change their attitudes and relevant behaviors.
Yubo’s Anti-Bullying Contributions
For years, Yubo has embraced The Diana Award’s anti-bullying initiatives. During Anti-Bullying Week 2022, for example, Yubo premiered an in-app information and advice campaign focused on cyberbullying.
Yubo provided anti-bullying tips and suggestions for young people who are cyberbullying victims. Users in the United States, Australia, Canada, and the UK benefited from this month-long public service campaign. In 2024, Yubo continued to engage in mutually beneficial collaborations with The Diana Award.
Yubo’s Multi-Component User Safety Program
Yubo’s mutually beneficial partnerships further the company’s goal of providing safe online user experiences. The Yubo User Safety Program provides a multi-pronged foundation for this ongoing effort. Three major program components stand out.
- 100% User Age Verification and Age Gating Protocols
- Industry-Leading Audio and Video Livestream Moderation
- 24/7 Safety Specialist and AI Monitoring and Intervention
The Yubo Safety Board’s Integral Role
The respected Yubo Safety Board continues to advise company leaders on online safety policies and practices. Safety Board members are associated with well-regarded online safety entities such as the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Thorn, INTERPOL, and The Diana Award.
The Yubo Safety Board complements Yubo’s non-profit, government, and non-governmental organization (or NGO) partnerships. Together, all entities unite toward a goal of providing safe online engagement for users of all ages and life experiences.
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