Safety guidance on apps designed to help young people meet new people online, and why they carry elevated risks.
Official age
13+
We recommend
18+
Developer
Various
Risks
4
Social discovery apps are designed to connect users with strangers who share interests. Apps like Yubo, Wizz, and similar platforms are popular with teenagers but carry significant risks because they are specifically designed to facilitate contact between people who don't know each other.
Teenagers use social discovery apps to find new friends, join interest groups, or take part in live video lounges, often by swiping through profiles or joining themed rooms similar to a dating app. The appeal is connecting with people outside their existing school or family circle, especially for young people who feel isolated, are exploring identity, or want a fresh start from local peer drama. Many move conversations off the app within minutes — to Snapchat, Discord, or Instagram — which is precisely the pattern groomers use to escape platform moderation. Some apps reward 'levelling up' or unlocking features by adding more friends, which encourages broad, low-quality connection over careful curation.
Location sharing
Location: App settings > Privacy
Set to: Off
These apps often request location data. Always disable location sharing.
Profile visibility
Location: App settings > Profile
Set to: Minimum information
Share as little personal information as possible on profiles.
Discuss why friend-making apps carry elevated risks
Time: 10 minutes
Check if these apps are installed on your child's device
Time: 5 minutes
Explain that age verification on these platforms is unreliable
Time: 5 minutes
Last reviewed: 2026-06-14