[4] Yubo was created by Sacha Lazimi, Jérémie Aouate and Arthur Patora when they were engineering students at CentraleSupélec Graduate school of the Paris-Saclay University and Télécom Paris[5] ,and it was first launched with the name "Yellow" in 2015.

[6][7] According to the founders, the app seeks to create a space for "socializing online" and to "facilitate communication between people all over the world who share mutual interests.

[11] In 2020, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Yubo recorded a significant rise in use due to quarantined teenagers, with a 550% increase in time spent in video discussion groups.

[18][19] In addition, Jerry Murdock, co-founder of Insight Partners who invested in Twitter and Snapchat, joined the board of directors of Yubo.

[20][19] In December 2020, Yubo through its partnership with Snapchat, the AR lenses from the Snap Inc. A camera kit were included directly in the app.

[24][25] Multiple witnesses reported that Ramos boasted about purchasing a firearm and posted threatening messages weeks before the tragic event occurred.

[26] In 2023, a tool operated by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and funded by Meta Platforms called "Take It Down" was released.

The participating platforms including Yubo, OnlyFans, Facebook, Instagram and Pornhub agreed to remove non-consensual images or videos that users flag with the tool.

This was a collaboration with pixel artist Banfan to create collectible digital art representing qualities, moods and personalities.

In 2018, Yubo joined the eSafety Commissioner's Tier 1 social media scheme in Australia for resolving cyberbullying.

It was quickly deemed "Tinder for Teens" by several online resources[37] as Yubo highlights a swiping feature similar to the popular dating app.

[38] There have been several cases[39][40] of predatory behavior, grooming, child pornography and exploitation of minors[41][42][39][43] in relation to the app.

[36][46][47] However, there is still a possibility for users to create fake profiles containing images of minors as an attempt to hide their true identity.

[53] Between 2018 and 2023 there were twenty cases of child sexual abuse in Swedish courts where the perpetrator and the victim met through Yubo.