Difference between revisions of "Omegle"
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Omegle was created on March 25, 2009 by 18-year-old Leif K-Brooks, an aspiring computer science major at the University of Vermont.<ref name = alltech /> <ref>[https://www.forbes.com/profile/leif-k-brooks/#5177c302fa0f Forbes: Leif K-Brooks]</ref> 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. <ref name = reddit /> 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. <ref name = reddit /> 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. <ref name = reddit>[https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/9vbd7/i_made_omeglecom_ama/ Reddit: I made Omegle.com. AMA] </ref> | Omegle was created on March 25, 2009 by 18-year-old Leif K-Brooks, an aspiring computer science major at the University of Vermont.<ref name = alltech /> <ref>[https://www.forbes.com/profile/leif-k-brooks/#5177c302fa0f Forbes: Leif K-Brooks]</ref> 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. <ref name = reddit /> 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. <ref name = reddit /> 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. <ref name = reddit>[https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/9vbd7/i_made_omeglecom_ama/ Reddit: I made Omegle.com. AMA] </ref> | ||
Revision as of 17:34, 27 March 2020
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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] Omegle's tagline is "Talk with Strangers!" 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, 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. Users do not have to register to be able to use Omegle.
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.
Extras
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.
Crime Involvement
Omegle has been involved in many crime news stories, most of which are related to child pornography and sexual assault of minors.
Child Pornography
- In January 2017, former school custodian Douglas Mehan, was arrested for finding and uploading child pornography on Omegle.[5]
- In September 2017, Adam Junghans, a 25-year-old man was arrested for collecting sexually explicit pictures of minors on Omegle.[6]
- In November 2019, Juan Carlos Ramon, a 34-year-old man was arrested for requesting pornographic images from underage girls for several years on Omegle.[7]
- In January 2020, Andre Esparra, a 29-year-old man was arrested for receiving nine images of child pornography on Omegle and saving them for "later use."[8]
Sexual Assault and Kidnapping
- In November 2014, Casey Lee Chinn, a 23-year-old man, was charged with 6 felony charges: two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of kidnapping, and two counts of solicitation of a child to engage in sexual conduct against two 13-year-old girls he met on Omegle. After a month of communicating on other social apps, the girls agreed to be picked up by Chinn who proceeded to take them to his house and sexually assault them.[9]
- In December 2018, Robert Alexander Kusma, a 33-year-old man was arrested for sexual assault of a minor he met on Omegle.
- In March 2019, Simeon Isaiah Crispin Steers-Smith, a 30-year-old man was arrested for soliciting a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl he met on Omegle.[10]
- In August 2019, Adrian Gardiner, a 40-year-old man, was arrested for meeting with a 12-year-old girl he met on Omegle and engaging in sexual activities.[11]
Ethical Issues
Security
Privacy
Inappropriate Content
See Also
- Anonymous Behavior in Virtual Environments
- Chatroulette
- Content moderation
- Cybersex
- Live Video
- Pornography
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 All Tech Buzz: Omegle Video Chat Website Review
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Similar Web: Omegle Website Analytics
- ↑ Forbes: Leif K-Brooks
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Reddit: I made Omegle.com. AMA
- ↑ Douglas Mehan
- ↑ Adam Junghans
- ↑ Juan Carlos Ramon
- ↑ Andre Esparra
- ↑ Casey Lee Chinn
- ↑ Robert Alexander Kusma
- ↑ Adrian Gardiner
