Difference between revisions of "Omegle"
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| − | If a user decides to use the "video" version, they can either participate in a moderated (default) video chat, a adult video chat, or a unmoderated video chat. To be able to participate in the adult or unmoderated chats, the user has to confirm that they are of 18 years of age or older. The adult version comes with a warning that the user will be viewing sexual material while the unmoderated version brings up a warning that the user is more likely to encounter sexual material because of its unmoderated nature. | + | If a user decides to use the "video" version, they can either participate in a moderated (default) video chat, a adult video chat, or a unmoderated video chat. To be able to participate in the adult or unmoderated chats, the user has to confirm that they are of 18 years of age or older. The adult version comes with a warning that the user will be viewing sexual material, while the unmoderated version brings up a warning that the user is more likely to encounter sexual material because of its unmoderated nature. |
=== Other === | === Other === | ||
Revision as of 15:41, 27 March 2020
Omegle is a free online chat room that allows strangers from around the world to chat with each other. The site was launched in 2009 by 18-year-old programmer Leif K-Brooks.[1] Within its first week, it had over 1800 users and has grown to over 30 million users to date.[2] Omegle's website is accessible through computers, phones, and tablets.
Although Omegle was initially started as a way to have meaningful connections with people around the world, it quickly gained a reputation for concerns related to nudity, pornography, minors under the age of 18, and privacy.
Contents
History
Omegle was created on March 25, 2009 by 18-year-old Leif K-Brooks, an aspiring computer science major at the University of Vermont.[1] [3] The name “Omegle” is based off of the phrase “error code omega," and the website was originally built in Python using the Twisted framework and ran on one server. [4] K-Brooks originally developed the idea of Omegle to create a space where people could safely interact with those outside of their usual social groups. [4] K-Brooks has not spoken to media outlets explicitly about himself or Omegle. However in 2010, K-Brooks revealed himself as the creator of Omegle on a Reddit thread and allowed Reddit users to ask him questions about the site. [4]
After the creation of the website, K-Brooks proceeded to create a mobile application to allow users to access Omegle from their phones. K-Brooks developed the app himself in Objective-C. Today, the official app can no longer be found in app stores, but the website itself is suited to be used on mobile devices. Many unofficial versions of the app can still be downloaded.
In February 2020, Omegle garnered about 30 million site visits, with almost 35% of its users coming from the United States. [2] Most of Omegle's traffic comes from direct searches to the website. Users who come to Omegle from other websites are usually referred from other chat websites and pornography websites.[2]
Features
There are many different ways to use Omegle. Users have the ability to choose to text chat or video chat with one other random person.
Text
If a user decides to chose the "text" version, they can either continue to be matched up with another person, or they can choose to enter spy mode. In spy mode, a third person poses a question to the user and their randomly selected partner, and the user and partner can discuss the question. The third person watches the conversation, but cannot join in. The user also has the ability to choose to be the person asking the question.
Video
If a user decides to use the "video" version, they can either participate in a moderated (default) video chat, a adult video chat, or a unmoderated video chat. To be able to participate in the adult or unmoderated chats, the user has to confirm that they are of 18 years of age or older. The adult version comes with a warning that the user will be viewing sexual material, while the unmoderated version brings up a warning that the user is more likely to encounter sexual material because of its unmoderated nature.
Other
To be matched with someone who has similar interests, the user can opt to add some of their interests before they choose which chat version they will use. Omegle will then attempt to match the user with another person who has the same interests.
If the user is in college, they also have the ability to participate in the college student chat. The user can enter their college email address ending in .edu or .edu.XX or .ac.XX. Once the user confirms their email address through an email Omegle sends them, Omegle will then match the user up with another random college student. The user's match will only be able to see the domain of the email address, not the user's entire address.
Controversies
Ethical Issues
Security
Privacy
Inappropriate Content
See Also
- Anonymous Behavior in Virtual Environments
- Chatroulette
- Content moderation
- Cybersex
- Live Video
- Pornography
