What it is
Omegle paired strangers in text or video chat with almost no barrier. It shut down in 2023 after years of reports and legal action about sexual harm to children. You may still hear the name, and you may still find apps that do the same job under a different logo.
The dangerous idea is simple: a child on camera, matched at random with whoever is online. There is no friend list and no good moderation story that makes that safe. If you find a lookalike app, treat it the same way.
What to look out for
- Any app that says you will meet a random person on video.
- A child who knows the Omegle name and talks about "the next one".
- Recorded clips of stranger chats being shared in group messages.
- Someone they "met on camera" asking to continue elsewhere.
Ways to stay safe
These steps are for Omegle. The house rules still apply on every app.
- Remove random video-chat apps. Do not go looking for a replacement together.
- Ask whether they have already been shown something sexual, or asked to show something.
- If yes, they are not in trouble for telling you. Use the help page.
- A firm house rule helps: no app whose purpose is to meet a random stranger.
In the news
Published reports you can read yourself. A headline is the proof, not a set of instructions, and this page does not repeat graphic detail.
- Ofcom looks at limits on gifts and recording a child’s livestream The regulator’s proposals include stopping people sending virtual gifts to a child’s livestream.
- Omegle shut down after abuse claims Random video chat. The site closed after years of reports that adults were paired with children.
A way to start the conversation
You can say: "Omegle is gone because this idea hurt children. If a new app does the same thing, the answer here is no. If something already happened, I want to help, not punish you."
Video
Random video chat parent briefing
A short video for this guide can be added by an editor. Until then, the written briefing above is the one to use.