As the popular film title suggested, the kids may be all right, but our planet certainly isn’t. In 2024, we experienced some of the hottest days ever recorded, and this trend does not seem to let up. The oceans are still warming and rising. Since 1970, wildlife populations have declined by 73% on average. Plastic? Everywhere. Reaching the “net zero” pledged in the Paris Agreement seems unrealistic as very little progress has been made to decrease carbon emissions. If anything, those emissions are predicted to rise by 0.8% in 2024. Nevertheless, some politicians continue to disregard the planetary emergency we find ourselves in, leaving the communities-at-risk to fend for themselves.

All of this paints a grim picture, causing young people to suffer extreme levels of anxiety linked to uncertainty of their future on our burning planet. While affecting all of humanity equally, younger generations were the first ones to grow up in a world where climate disasters became the norm, not the exception. Sometimes, this results in fatalism and resignation, and while understandable, those are of little help when it comes to taking action for climate justice. So, if climate emergency is indeed impossible to ignore, we should all become better-equipped in thinking about the possible ways to stop and revert it, and applying those strategies in our personal lives. After all, caring about our planet isn’t just about fearing the future; it’s about loving, preserving and refusing to let go of those wonderful things that we still have. It is not fear, but the power of love and care for our planet is the feeling we need to harness to fight climate change.

At Yubo, we take our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments seriously. Among them is raising awareness about climate change. Using the influence we have within our industry, we aspire to always support and contribute to the fight for better climate. We believe that promoting high standards of conduct in tech as well as encouraging positive behaviors in our industry, our workplace and among our users are fundamental to accomplishing sustainable growth in the long term.

At Yubo headquarters in Paris we have implemented some important steps towards eco-friendliness. We recycle our office waste in partnership with Les Joyeux Recycleurs. We also switched away from using plastic cups in the office as well as stopped using coffee capsules, opting in for coffee beans with less packaging instead. Finally, we transformed our rooftop terrace into an urban garden where we grow fruit, vegetables and herbs! This helps us to reduce the building's carbon footprint and encourages our colleagues to spend some time in a natural environment, participating in practice of “urban picking”. All these little steps are designed to reduce the negative impact on the environment that modern workplaces unfortunately contribute to, and to relieve the personal stress associated with climate change as everyone gets to play their part in making the future a little more liveable.

We all know about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling. However, in our increasingly digitized lives, it is important to remember that technology has a carbon footprint too. Every text you send, TikTok you scroll past and duplicate photos you forget to delete from your device uses energy, and that energy often comes from fossil fuels, the primary culprit of global warming. But don’t worry, we’re not here to make you feel guilty! Instead, we’d like you to consider digital sustainability and see what tweaks you can implement into your daily digital habits to offset the impact you have on the environment. The movement for digital sustainability is designed to teach us to think about using technology in a way that is mindful of our shared planet. So, here’s some inspiration if you’ve been waiting to switch things up and contribute to a better future.

With the abundance of digital files we hold on to, our cloud storage can quickly become cluttered and unruly. But in the same way that money doesn’t grow on trees, your cloud files don’t go to a mysterious secret place outside our physical world. They are stored on servers somewhere, and those servers are powered by energy. This is why it is extremely important to sort through and organize your files to make sure you’re not keeping things you don’t need. Remember to delete emails you’re unlikely to open, unsubscribe from irrelevant newsletters and clean up your photo library deleting duplicates, unnecessary screenshots and the like.

Don’t cycle through your devices too fast

We all know how great a shiny new smartphone feels! However, e-waste is a big contributor to the planetary environmental issues that we face. In 2019, 53.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste was produced in the world. Only 17.4% of this waste was collected and recycled. When considering a new gadget, think back to these numbers. If your current smartphone or laptop still works, maybe you should hold onto it, and if it doesn’t – try repairing it first. When you do decide to upgrade, make sure to recycle the old one properly.

Did you know that standby power could use up to 10% of your overall household energy, and is responsible for 1% of total global CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to the output of several large power plants? Keeping this in mind, it is important to unplug your devices, as they still draw energy when plugged in, even if not in use. If you have power strips installed in your home, remember to use them too as they allow you to cut power from multiple devices simultaneously. Other things you could do include turning your devices off instead of just leaving them to “sleep” as well as using energy-efficient settings such as dark mode.

Your web search traffic produces carbon emissions too. For instance, Google produces 0.11 grams of CO2 per search. This is why it’s important to choose a good search engine that can help you offset your carbon footprint. Here’s the list of engines you could try using!

Ecosia: If you love trees, this one is for you. 100% of Ecosia’s profits go to climate action, with 80% of their income spent on planting trees. Importantly, they plant native tree species and stay away from monocultures.

Ekoru: This search engine helps you to clean up plastics from the ocean with every click. They also help to “reforest” it by planting ocean seagrass. Ekoru works with initiatives such as Big Blue Ocean Cleanup and Operation Posidonia.

OceanHero: This is another engine for ocean lovers. Like Ekoru, they prevent the plastic from entering our oceans, and they do it with style! On average every 5 searches with OceanHero helps recover one plastic bottle.

So here you go! Now you know about some simple strategies to help you offset your digital carbon footprint. While small, all of the above can help us make a huge difference and move towards maintaining our planet for ourselves and the generations to come.

Sometimes being looped into a 24/7 news cycle, reporting on each and every way in which we are killing our planet, can generate feelings of helplessness and anxiety. But here’s the deal: while it’s absolutely understandable to feel overwhelmed by the state of things, it’s also important not to let that anxiety rule over our everyday life. We need to stay optimistic, if the current climate emergency is the problem we intend to solve. So if you’re in need of a breather, we’d like to offer you a list of things you could try to soothe the negative emotions associated with climate change.

Being the huge problem it is, climate change tends to make people feel powerless about ever stopping it. However, implementing small eco-conscious habits into your life can help you to feel that you’re not staying idle and indifferent. It also connects you to the larger movement of people who take the current state of affairs as seriously as you do.

Being in nature can remind us why we care about our planet and ecology. Go outside to sit under an old tree, grab your binoculars and go do some birdwatching or simply take a brief walk in your local park. Appreciating nature and staying connected to it can give us a welcome relief from the stress and anxiety we’re feeling.

With so much doomer content on the internet, it can sometimes feel unavoidable. But we challenge you to surround yourself with positive news, too! Give some activist initiatives a follow on social media, or find and watch a documentary about people making real change in the world. Get inspired into action, not scared into it.

Another thing to remember is that you’re not alone in this fight. There’s a whole generation of young people who are taking action every day, as concerned about the planet as you are. So make sure to find your people. Go on a march, chat with your friends, or even find someone on Yubo by using our causes tags. Knowing that you belong in a group of like-minded people can help you soothe the anxiety from feeling like you’re all on your own.

We know that the climate crisis is real. Feeling anxious about it is also totally understandable. But remember that the key to reducing that anxiety is taking climate action, focusing on the love for the planet, and finding moments of inspiration. It’s impossible to save the world overnight, but every small action adds up.

Remember to take breaks from the doom and gloom, we won’t judge you for spending some time scrolling TikTok, but make sure to come back when you are feeling recharged and remember to balance it out with some positive action!

Digital habits for a healthier planet

Swipe? Nah – maybe? Nah. Swipe? Maybe yes? Seems friendly enough, but what if they’re not? Is that what I want? How could I possibly know?

It’s unclear when dating apps started feeling like trying to keep a job, but it’s unanimous – they just do. Every week, more articles about dating-app burnout pop up on the Internet. It is reported that younger generations feel the most tired of endless swiping, with 80% of millennials and 79% of Gen Z admitting to feelings of fatigue associated with dating online.

Using dating apps often feels impersonal, and creating your own profile has long turned into a weird marketing exercise with hours spent on selecting pictures and honing in your bio. It’s interesting, too, how dating apps, designed to connect us, can actually make people feel lonelier. The more profiles you swipe, the more people blur into a faceless mass of “maybes” or “not-quites.” So why are dating apps so popular and so frustrating at the same time? We found three main reasons for this.

A lack of real connection 
With countless potential match options on dating apps, engaging in numerous identical conversations at the same time soon becomes tedious. After all, there's a limit to how many times you can ask someone their favorite color! Given the chances that the conversation will fizzle out, you're inclined to invest minimal energy in initial chats. Then, you find yourself trapped in a cycle: matching, having lifeless conversations, and ultimately never hearing from them again… only to match the next person, with little-to-no hope of a better outcome.

Endless swiping 
Have you seen so many profiles that everyone starts blending together like one giant TikTok algorithm of red flags and awkward mirror selfies? Relatable? Endless swiping can become demoralizing, and studies even show that the use of dating apps is often linked to increased anxiety, lower self-esteem, and frustration. People are left feeling like they’re auditioning for a part they never get, endlessly comparing themselves and their matches until they don’t even know who they are anymore.

Rigidity of expectations 
Dating apps often pressure you to know and disclose what you're looking for immediately. It goes even deeper than just defining if you’re looking for a long-term relationship or something more casual. The reason to go on a dating app is to try to find someone to date. However, most lasting relationships are found organically, when you aren't trying at all. Arguably, putting emphasis on dating from the get-go creates a rigidity and kills the element of surprise that is so fundamental to building social relationships. Here at Yubo, we try to bring serendipity and surprise back into online social interactions, allowing our users to forego labels and expectations when connecting with someone new.

There is something special about meeting someone new. You start talking with them – let’s say at a friend’s party, or in a gaming Discord channel – and you get to connect freely, without any pressure or expectations. Possibilities are truly endless: you can go on to become close friends after a while, or start meeting up every Saturday for a game of Among Us, or just never talk to them again.

Real connection takes time and often starts with the simplest forms of companionship. Think back to being a kid – when you went up to your new bestie in the playground, did you think about what they could do for you? Did you judge them on their jacket or wonder if you’d be friends five years down the line? No! They were there and you were here, and you wanted someone to chill with. From those simple beginnings, you made a connection that could last for the rest of your lives. Or not – and that was okay too. Here at Yubo, we want to recreate that magical serendipity that was a large part of our lives back when we were kids. So, how do we do it?

Multiple connection points 
While it’s possible to make friends whilst swiping on Yubo, it’s not the only way to meet new people on the app. The Live tab is one such place, where you can browse people having video and voice conversations in real life, or alternatively start your own and wait for other people to join! This allows for deeper connections like seeing someone’s face, body language and mannerisms, or hearing their voice, which can make you click a lot faster than matching and chatting via text messages. You can also find friends through our Fast Add feature, which forgoes swiping and sends out 100, 200 or 500 friend requests to random people on the app. Without the selection process, you can start building connections with people you wouldn’t normally swipe right on, allowing you to be surprised by the unexpected. You can explore without judging or evaluating, and it gives you a chance to relax, knowing you’re not being judged or assessed either.

No expectations 
Now that finding "the one" is off the table, there are quite a lot of options opening up before you. Talking and exploring in a relaxed setting is conducive to making connections you didn’t even know you needed. Going with the flow and letting the conversation shape your expectations, rather than the other way around, may be surprising, in a good way. Here at Yubo, we believe in online spaces that give us the possibility to play without the constant fear of being judged, allowing people to meet in a context where expectations are lower, but the potential for meaningful connection is higher. Social discovery apps let you hang out without the pressure of the never-ending series of first dates.

Here at Yubo, we prize one thing above all else – friendship. Maybe it’s time we all started connecting without the pressure to find “the one.” Maybe they’re not the one, but they could just be the best thing that happened to your weekend. Friendship apps encourage connections that bring joy, depth, and authenticity without the pressure of romance. And in a world that’s become so obsessed with finding “someone,” maybe the real victory lies in finding people who simply make life richer and more exciting.

Let go of your expectations to find unexpected connections on Yubo

As we approach 2024, Gen Z is gearing up for a celebration with a digital twist, adding some flair to their festivities with Yubo. 

Gen Z is turning to Yubo to elevate their celebrations. From virtual gatherings to live-streaming events, Yubo is definitely the go-to platform for welcoming the New Year. Yubo's real-time connectivity transforms screens into dynamic windows connecting friends in a way that's both cool and communal.

Yubo isn't just an app; it's like a digital playground where young people can show off their creative side. Cool challenges on Yubo make users share their New Year goals live, and fun filters turn regular videos into exciting, festive shows. When you mix Yubo into your New Year plans, it's like adding a digital spark to your creativity. Yubo makes sure meeting new friends and finding cool holiday content is a unique and fun experience that everyone can enjoy.

Let's talk resolutions, Gen Z style for 2024. 

Gen Z is not only fine-tuning their Yubo profiles but also optimizing their daily lives from privacy settings to screen resolutions, it's all about that chill upgrade.

Now, speaking of upgrades, how about a DigitalDetox?

Digital detox is all about consciously stepping away from screens and electronic devices for a set period. The goal? To dial down the stress, boost mindfulness, and amp up well-being by taking a break from the constant digital buzz. Whether it's just a few hours, a day, a weekend, or even longer – digital detox is your ticket to pause and engage in meaningful, offline activities. 

Think: soaking up nature, enjoying face-to-face chats, diving into a good book, or just practicing some good old mindfulness. It's a response to modern digital dependence, a way to kick back, reset, and build a healthier relationship with the digital world. Gen Z is thinking about kicking back and taking breaks to maintain that balance between the virtual and the real world. It's like hitting the refresh button on their digital habits.

And let's not forget about that Positive Influence. Gen Z is using its social impact on Yubo and beyond to spread positive vibes and engage in meaningful conversations.

So, by juggling on Yubo while maintaining positive vibes online, Gen Z is setting the stage for a laid-back and positive 2024. 

Let's kick off the virtual party and make every "move" on Yubo count for a memorable New Year!

Gen Z is gearing up for a Yubo-style New Year celebration, transforming screens into dynamic Yubo windows for virtual gatherings and real-time connectivity. Yubo, the social discovery app, and ultimate digital playground, sparks creativity with Yubo challenges and festive filters, making New Year's goals a live Yubo showcase. Beyond profile optimization, Gen Z embraces Yubo for a Digital Detox, balancing Yubo screen time with offline activities. Leveraging Yubo's positive influence, they spread good vibes and engage in meaningful Yubo conversations, setting the stage for a laid-back and Yubo-centric 2024.

Yubo Rolling into 2024 With Gen Z

2 minutes read

- Written by Yubo Team