Yubo’s Live Social Discovery App Keeps Gen Zers Connected During the Cold, Snowy Winter
In today’s technology-driven world, social media is becoming an ever-larger part of digitally savvy users’ lives. To illustrate, a Forbes Advisor May 2023 report estimated a total of 4.9 billion social media users around the world. Looking ahead, analysts expect this number to reach 5.85 billion users by 2027.
These social media users aren’t just logging in for a few minutes each day. The average user spends approximately 145 minutes (more than two hours) chatting on social media daily. Not surprisingly, these conversations enable many users to stay connected when in-person engagements aren’t a feasible option.
GEN Z’S STRONG CONNECTION TO SOCIAL MEDIA
Gen Z social media users (or individuals 13 to 25) are one of the largest social media cohorts. These young digital natives have integrated social media into almost every aspect of their lives. Two reasons are behind this unprecedented involvement.
First, Gen Zers take to social media to keep in touch with classmates, friends, and perhaps coworkers who aren’t readily available in person. These quick online check-ins are low-pressure ways to stay connected with minimal time investment. Not surprisingly, this tactic works equally well with contacts across town or across the globe. Even better, users can interact with multiple contacts via a “group chat” functionality.
Second, many Gen Zers regard online and in-person communication as equally valid. These young social media users have largely erased the line between the two forms of engagement. They flow effortlessly between online and offline interactions. In fact, some Gen Zers prefer virtual communication to person-to-person interactions, like the livestream communication on apps like Yubo.
SOCIAL MEDIA’S ROLE IN WEATHER EMERGENCIES
Social media networks collectively have a proven ability to get messages through at lightning-fast speed. As expected, local governments have tapped into these widely used channels to broadcast messages about weather emergencies.
When a hurricane targets a region, or a tornado is barreling toward a town, social media can relay advisories and/or warnings to affected residents. When a winter weather event unfolds, social media can help transmit news about affected roads, power outages, and even warming shelter locations.
Local authorities have also used social media to send and receive messages when normal communication channels are out. During Hurricane Harvey in Houston, and during Superstorm Sandy in New Jersey, 911 services and phone lines were down. Therefore, residents turned to social media to communicate their needs, and many local agencies listened.
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With many weather emergencies since then, social media continues to be key in emergency response efforts. In fact, community members often step up to help their fellow residents along with local agencies that need assistance. Again, social media often gets the word out much faster than conventional communication channels.
SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT: GRAPHICS AND EMOJIS ARE KEY
With any topic, adding smart, colorful graphics will spur more user clicks than boring blocks of text. Winter weather social media posts are no exception. With that in mind, Yubo users are encouraged to attach these infographics to messages about the nasty winter weather.
When a winter weather post is accompanied by a friendly emoji, the recipient may be more likely to open the message. In addition, emojis can help lighten the mood during an often-stressful time.
5 WINTER WEATHER PREP TIPS AND RESOURCES
Today, many traditional winter weather preparedness materials have migrated to a digital format. Here are five advisories (with links) that can help Gen Zers and their families prepare for (and weather) a winter storm.
- Know how to stay safe before, during, and after winter weather and extreme cold: www.ready.gov/winter
- Start a family conversation about extreme cold weather preparation: www.ready.gov/kids/know-the-facts/winter-storms-extreme-cold
- Monitor weather alerts in up to five locations with the Fema app.
- Winter Storm Prep Tips: Check on neighbors, charge cell phones, get flashlights (check batteries), and monitor local officials online.
YUBO MAKES IT EASY FOR SNOWED-IN GEN ZERS TO STAY IN TOUCH
Cold, snowy, and icy winter weather often makes it difficult to safely navigate the local roads. When schools declare a snow day (or multiple snow days), young Gen Zers find themselves stuck at home rather than socializing with friends in the school hallways and cafeteria. Naturally, Gen Zers want to avoid a duplicate of the COVID-19 pandemic’s isolation.
Therefore, Gen Zers promptly escalate their social media use, catching up with friends via their favorite platforms. Meet Yubo, a rapidly expanding live social discovery app that continues to be the choice of social media-savvy Gen Zers from across the globe. Launched in 2015, Paris-based Yubo primarily attracts teens and young adults from 13 to 25.
With more than 60 million users, Yubo boasts a customer base from over 140 countries. The app’s young users form genuine online friendships based on common ground and shared interests. At Yubo, “likes” and “follows” are nowhere to be found, as Yubo values authentic relationships rather than numbers.
TWO APPEALING COMMUNICATION METHODS
Yubo users enjoy two popular communication methods. Either way, users can stay in contact with fellow Gen Zers regardless of how much snow stacks up on the roads. Stated another way, users won’t miss a beat when keeping in touch with online friends.
YUBO LIVESTREAMS (OR “LIVES”)
Gen Zers continue to gravitate to livestreams, the rapidly growing communication method that combines technology and spontaneity. In fact, Yubo “Lives” is now the platform’s most popular communication vehicle. By design, livestreams closely resemble in-person chats with a favorite group of friends.
Each Yubo “Live” involves between one and 10 users streaming at once. Unlimited fellow users can transmit live thoughts, enabling them to check in with friends when winter weather prevents in-person get-togethers.
ONE-TO-ONE USER CHATS
When two Yubo users want to enjoy a private chat, they’ll first create a friendship inside the Yubo app. Once that’s complete, they can converse on topics including school, the weather, or the latest fashion and music. As long as the chat follows Yubo’s Community Guidelines, users are encouraged to get creative.
YUBO’S COMMUNITY GUIDELINES FORM THE FOUNDATION
Whether Yubo users engage in a livestream or chat, or share details about the latest snow totals, they are expected to be respectful and courteous when interacting with others. This conduct-related pillar is key to Yubo’s Community Guidelines, which all users adopt when first accessing the platform. This collaborative mindset, and respect for everyone’s similarities and differences, will help keep Yubo growing and thriving.
This story originally appeared on https://tasmaniantimes.com/2024/02/yubos-live-social-discovery-app-keeps-gen-zers-connected-during-the-cold-snowy-winter/
