Social Discovery & Friend-Making Apps
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
Overview
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.
How children use it
Teenagers use these apps to find new friends, often by swiping through profiles similar to dating apps. The appeal is connecting with people outside their existing social circle.
Main risks
Recommended privacy settings
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.
Parent actions
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