What Is Omegle?

Due to its incredibly problematic history, Omegle is not technically available on the App Store or Google Play—although there is a very similar app that is available known as OmeTV.  In addition, Omegle has a workaround where it can be accessed on a mobile or desktop browser at Omegle.com without any app necessary.  Omegle is an anonymous chatting platform that connects users all over the world by text and/or video.  Omegle’s tagline of “Talk to strangers!” is a pretty succinct description of the dangers it presents to children.  Once a user has selected their language, they can add a category or topic they want to talk about or instantly start chatting with complete strangers anywhere within seconds.

Risks

Omegle has a long history of mature and sexually explicit conversations.

• Omegle’s website says “YOU MUST BE 18 OR OLDER TO USE OMEGLE.”  Until May 2021, Omegle’s website also stated, “Predators have been known to use Omegle, so please be careful.”

There is no age verification and language is uncensored.

• Children can enter chats with online predators, which exposes them to grooming, hate speech, violence, alcohol and drug abuse, self-harm, and all kinds of severe digital dangers.
• Predators will try to push boundaries to gain trust and obtain identifying information (such as phone numbers or social media profiles) of children in order to continue communication.
• According to an article in The Oregonian/OregonLive, an 11-year-old girl in Oregon was contacted by a Canadian pedophile in his 30’s while chatting on Omegle in 2014. The predator asked for the victim’s contact information and asked her for pictures and videos of her naked.  After 3 years of abusing the child, he was caught by Canadian law enforcement and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Users can screenshot chats, images, and videos without the other person’s knowledge or consent.

• Predators talking with underage children are not removed from the chat or website.
• Omegle’s popularity has increased by users sharing recorded content on TikTok and other social media.

Recommendations

We strongly suggest that children never access Omegle or OmeTV.  It is simply not suitable for minors.  Omegle is a site that can easily expose children to predators as well as other sexually explicit and extremely graphic content.  Video chatting on this type of platform is incredibly dangerous because there’s no screening or verification.  On the homepage, Omegle displays, “Video chat is moderated but no moderation is perfect. Users are solely responsible for their behavior while using Omegle.”  The site also says, “Please leave Omegle and visit an adult site instead if that’s what you’re looking for, and you are 18 or older.”  There have been a number of videos showing users naked in front of their cameras to surprise the stranger on the other end. You do not need to register or create an account to access, making exposure to predators extremely high.

Want To Learn More?

In addition to Common Sense Media’s review of Omegle, more valuable information for parents and caregivers can be found on Bark and Family Zone as well as other sources listed below.

Sources

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/website-reviews/omegle

https://www.qustodio.com/en/blog/omegle-app-encourages-chats-with-strangers/

https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2021/11/omegle-virtual-video-chat-site-that-links-random-people-sued-for-allegedly-exposing-11-year-old-girl-to-sexual-predator.html

https://nypost.com/2021/11/19/omegle-allowed-child-user-to-become-pedophiles-digital-sex-slave-suit/

https://www.childnet.com/blog/what-is-omegle-key-things-parents-and-carers-need-to-know/

https://www.parents.com/kids/safety/internet/is-omegle-safe-for-kids/

https://www.familyzone.com/anz/families/blog/did-she-know-who-she-was-talking-to

https://www.familyzone.com/anz/families/blog/five-risky-apps-and-sites

https://www.bark.us/blog/omegle-monitoring-are-your-kids-talking-to-strangers/

https://www.safesearchkids.com/is-omegle-safe-for-your-kids-complete-guide-for-parents