- A popular platform ended after 14 years of operation
- Omegle faced multiple accusations of enabling sexual harassment
- In its last month of operation, the site recorded 50 million visitors
Omegle used to be a popular platform that became famous mainly for connecting individuals randomly through chat or video chat. After 14 years of operation, it was discontinued, mainly due to the growing abuse of the platform and user safety concerns. The platform has faced legal and regulatory scrutiny for several years. Over the years, we have witnessed user abuses, especially regarding the sexual exploitation of minors, which severely tarnished the platform’s reputation. The site was investigated in various cases and in some countries, it was even labeled as a tool for predators.
It’s officially the end of Omegle.
2009 – 2023 pic.twitter.com/HwwduTAohn– Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) November 9, 2023
The founder Leif K-Brooks, then 18 years old, explains on the site that the platform was founded for random chat with strangers, based on anonymity and social spontaneity. Although Omegle was meant to be used for positive purposes, such as exploring foreign cultures and providing impartial counseling, it also faced abuses, including serious crimes. The founder cited his own mental health as one of the reasons for shutting down the site and expressed disappointment with how the internet has changed in the last decade.
Omegle chat site shut down over misuse
The stress and costs of operating and combating its abuse were simply too overwhelming. The site was self-funded and although its popularity had gradually declined, it still had about 50 million visitors last month. In its final statement, it expressed gratitude to all those who used the site for positive purposes and contributed to its success.
Have you ever visited Omegle?
Source: Omegle, techcrunch