Omegle
Type of site |
|
---|---|
Available in | English |
Founded | March 25, 2009 |
Dissolved | November 8, 2023 |
Country of origin | United States |
Owner | Omegle.com, LLC |
Created by | Leif K-Brooks |
Industry | Internet |
URL | omegle |
Commercial | No |
Registration | No |
Current status | Defunct |
Omegle (
Creation
The site was created by then-18-year-old Leif K-Brooks of
Etymology
Brooks said, "I was working on a different project before Omegle, and it kept breaking due to an error from a third-party service it used. The error code wasn't documented, and I wanted a name for it, so I nicknamed it 'error code omega' because it was apocalyptic. Omegle was eventually named after that."[6]
Criticism of China
Omegle criticized the Chinese Communist Party, expressed support for the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests, and added an image of the American flag on the front page with the words "Xi Jinping sure looks like Winnie-the-Pooh" over it.[7]
Racism amongst some users
During the
Child sexual abuse
In 2010, K-Brooks expressed disappointment over sexual content on the site.
Originally, 13-year-olds could use the website with the permission of a parent or guardian.[16] Many local and state law enforcement agencies warned of increasing sexual exploitation of minors when Omegle's popularity surged during the COVID-19 lockdowns.[17][18] During the COVID-19 lockdowns, the site increased in popularity, particularly with teenagers.[19]
In 2020, a Canadian teacher was arrested at his home in Guelph after he broadcast child pornography on Omegle. He plead guilty to several criminal charges in 2022.[20] In 2021, an Australian man was arrested at his home on the Central Coast of New South Wales after he allegedly used Omegle to advertise his search for child sex.[21]
In 2022, the rules were updated so that only those 18 or older were allowed to use the website.
Closure
At the time of its closure, Omegle faced a $22 million lawsuit, which was filed in 2019 over a user from
See also
References
- ^ "Omegle". Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ ComicBook.com. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ "What is Omegle? What parents need to know". Internet Matters. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ "Omegle chat program can help you find love anonymously". Oneindia. April 14, 2009. Archived from the original on April 30, 2009.
- ^ Quenqua, Douglas Promises Strangers (April 26, 2009). "Tired of Old Web Friends? A New Site". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 9, 2018.
- ^ "Founder of Omegle.com Answers Questions From Redditors". Ian Carnaghan. October 20, 2009. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
- ^ Restar, Al (October 10, 2019). "Omegle throws jabs at China: 'Xi = Pooh!'". Z6 Mag. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
- ^ a b "Extremist Trolls are Targeting Omegle Users with Virulent Racism, Antisemitism". Anti-Defamation League. Archived from the original on May 15, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "Racism is rampant on Omegle. Teens are working to hold racist trolls accountable". NBC News. December 20, 2020. Archived from the original on May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "Racism is rampant on Omegle. Teens are working to hold racist trolls accountable". NBC News. December 20, 2020. Archived from the original on May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "A far-right troll's journey from an Ipswich bedroom to global infamy". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. July 24, 2021. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ a b "Chatroulette and Omegle: chat rooms with a twist". BBC News. March 24, 2010. Archived from the original on July 20, 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
- ^ "A Chat with Strangers: Fun or Dangerous?". April 14, 2015. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
- ^ "Omegle privacy policy". February 1, 2013. Archived from the original on March 3, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
- ^ Loffhagen, Emma (November 15, 2023). "Goodbye Omegle: how the anonymous chatroom traumatized our teen years". The Guardian.
- ^ Hanson, Kait (November 8, 2021). "What is Omegle? What parents need to know about keeping kids safe online". Today. Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ Slugoski, Kendra (March 9, 2021). "Child luring and sextortion cases online spike since start of pandemic". Global News. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ Annable, Kristin; Barghout, Caroline (August 25, 2022). "A website designed to talk to strangers has become a haven for child sex predators, expert says". CBC News. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ Lorenz, Taylor (March 1, 2021). "Oh, So We're Doing Random Video Chat Again?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020.
- ^ McNaughton, Graeme (May 10, 2023). "Guelph man can no longer be teacher after child porn conviction". Guelph Mercury Tribune. Archived from the original on July 1, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ Ferri, Lauren (November 26, 2021). "Central Coast man charged after allegedly procuring child for sex through Omegle". news.com.au. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ Fonrouge, Gabrielle (November 19, 2021). "Omegle allowed child user to become pedophile's digital sex slave: suit". New York Post. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ A.M. v. Omegle.com LLC (United States District Court for the District of Oregon 2019).
- ^ a b Tidy, Joe (November 22, 2023). "Omegle: 'How I got the dangerous chat site closed down'". Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ "Omegle shut down: Video chat website closed after abuse claims". BBC News. November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ "Omegle". November 9, 2023. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ^ Hoover, Amanda (November 9, 2023). "Omegle Was Forced to Shut Down by a Lawsuit From a Sexual Abuse Survivor". Wired. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.