Omegle free online chat site started in 2009, and is the number one alternative to Chatroulette. Created by Leif K-Brooks of Vermont, the site reached around 150,000 pageviews a day. That was less than a month after its rollout.
Around 35% of its global visitors are Americans. This proves the popularity of the site in the United States. Users from India (15%) and the Philippines (5%) also contribute to the site’s traffic.
Riding on the success of the original site, sites like Omegle and their apps have seen growth over the years. These sites include:
- Bazoocam
- CamSurf
- ChatHub
- ChatKaro
- ChatRad
- ChatRandom
- Chatroulette
- ChatSpin
- Emerald
- Facebuzz
- FaceFlow
- Fruzo
- Holla
- iMeetzu
- Instachatrooms
- OmeTV
- Shagle
- RandoChat
- TinyChat
How Does Omegle Work
Like other free online chat sites, Omegle allows users to socialize without registration. The site pairs users in one-on-one chat sessions in a random fashion. Users appear on the site with names such as “You” and “Stranger”. There’s also the Spy mode where users identify themselves as “Stranger 1” and “Stranger 2”.
The site first offered a text chat feature. But in 2010, it added video mode, pairing users who have webcams and microphones. The video chat comes with a built-in text window.
The chat site introduced in 2011 the Spy Mode. In this mode, users can be the spy and ask a question of two strangers. They may also discuss a question with another stranger. As a spy, you may answer the question and video the discussion as a third party. The spy can quit any time even when the two strangers are still chatting with one another.
As in the normal text mode, the site enables users to discuss the question instead. Paired with another stranger, the user can discuss the question provided by the spy. That is until the other stranger decides to quit.
The site added in 2012 a new feature to the text and video modes, allowing users to put interest tags. The chat site’s algorithm pairs strangers based on their common interests. Users can input as many interests as they like. But, f the system can’t find a pair based on interests, it will pick a random stranger.
If you want your chat mate to see you properly, you’ll need a good camera. But, you’ll also need a good headset and mic when using this program. If you’re looking to let your chatmates hear you more clearly, you can buy a headset with mic and improve your experience.
Is Omegle Safe?
Many gamers who frequent sites like Minecraft and Roblox also use Omegle to find a community, and many of them are kids. This is problematic because Omegle is possibly the most dangerous place on the internet to be in for children. Even the site creator recognizes this and blatantly warns visitors that “Predators have been known to use Omegle”. Despite this, there’s no real mechanism from Omegle that will safeguard its minor users.
The site has introduced a profanity filter in 2013 and used an image recognition algorithm. These filters harmful content such as hate speech and sexual content. It also enabled users to report violators. However, Omegle still lacks a solid age verification mechanism even on the adult version of their website. As long as websites like Omegle allow access for all age groups, predators will benefit and the internet will never be safe for children.
To answer the question, Omegle is not safe for children. Parental supervision, if not complete parental censorship, is necessary for minors using the website.
From Site To App
Omegle added the dorm chat mode to the platform in 2013. This mode requires users to give their email addresses ending in .edu. This is to confirm that they are from a college or a university. The mode enables users to chat with their colleagues and schoolmates on the site.
The site began implementing ReCaptcha security measures in 2015. The approach addresses the growing amount of bots on the site.
Online searches linked to sites like Omegle cross ages and genders. That said, people also search for omegle kids, omegle teen, and gay omegle online. With the growth and popularity of mobile devices, Omegle-like apps now cater to Android and iOS mobile device users.
