Yubo: review, limits and a 15+ alternative
Active, but 18+ only since November 2025
Yubo was long the French app closest to PLOXX in audience: young people who want friends, not dating. But since 1 November 2025 it is 18+ only - 15-17 year-olds have lost access. PLOXX is open from 15, with no account, an age declared before the first match, and an avatar instead of your face.
| Feature | PLOXX | Yubo |
|---|---|---|
| No signup | ✅ | ❌ |
| Free | ✅ | ⚠️ |
| Video chat | ✅ | ✅ |
| Text chat | ✅ | ✅ |
| Language filter | ❌ | ⚠️ |
| Auto translation | ✅ | – |
| Persistent friends | ✅ | ✅ |
| Levels and badges | ✅ | ⚠️ |
| Active moderation | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mobile-friendly | ✅ | ✅ |
| No dark patterns | ✅ | ⚠️ |
About Yubo
Yubo is a French app, launched in Paris, that was for a decade THE teen social network in France. Its positioning was clear: making friends, not dating - the same intent as PLOXX.
Since 1 November 2025, Yubo is 18+ only. Accounts belonging to 13-17 year-olds were deactivated country by country during October 2025. Management explains that its community grew up with it, adults having become the majority. In practice, 15-17 year-olds no longer have a place there.
What it does well
- Friendship-first rather than dating - a healthy intent, like PLOXX.
- Age verification taken seriously, with facial age estimation and manual checks.
- Live group rooms: pleasant once you already know people.
Where it falls short
- 18+ only since November 2025: 15-17 year-olds can no longer sign up.
- Mandatory signup and profile: no anonymity, and friction at the door.
- Everything runs through live video where you show yourself: no option to stay behind an avatar.
- Mobile app only, no direct use from a browser.
Our verdict
If you are 18 or over, Yubo remains a polished app with a genuine French community. If you are 15 to 17, the question is settled: you have had no access since November 2025. PLOXX is built for exactly that age range: no signup, the camera off at the start with your avatar on screen, and for 15 to 17 year olds, video that always goes through our servers, so their IP address stays hidden from the other person.
Frequently asked questions
Is Yubo still open to teenagers?
No. Since 1 November 2025 Yubo is 18+ only, and under-18 accounts were deactivated during October 2025. PLOXX welcomes 15 and over: everyone declares their age before their first match, and under-15s are turned away.
Why did Yubo move to 18+?
Its community aged with the platform: adults had been the majority for over a year. The company chose to own that audience rather than straddle two age groups.
What is the alternative for 15-17 year-olds?
That is precisely PLOXX's niche: open from 15, private messages only between friends, no signup, and the option to chat in text or as an avatar without ever showing your face.