Articles

ChatRoulette.com Gambles with Online Social Standards

February 26th, 2010 by Rosemina Nazarali

Source: Network.nationalpost.com

ChatRoulette.com is the latest fad to hit the social media list, but this one is a bit different and a lot less secure than your usual Twitter or Facebook. Chat Roulette is a video chatting website where a user simply goes on and presses ‘Play’ to begin chatting with random strangers. Don’t like what you see? Simply click ‘Next’ until you see a face (or whatever other body part appears) you are willing to chat with.

Unlike other social networking websites, Chat Roulette does not require any registration or authorization. Everyone on the video chatting website is considered a ‘stranger’ so no sign-in is necessary, making the video chats available to anyone and everyone, including your children.

According to avid Chat Roulette user, Avery Newberger, “a lot of things you see are really inappropriate,” adding that he even came across people “doing sexual things” on camera. The website does state that users should be 16 years old to participate, but since there is no registration, it’s more of a suggestion than an actual implemented rule. Like any other social networking website, there are ways to report abuse and inappropriate use, which is stated clearly on the front page.

With 30,000 to 40,000 users on at any given moment, younger kids and teens can come across some pretty unnerving sights and might benefit from stricter privacy and authorization settings on Chat Roulette.

Update – March 26, 2010

It seems that ChatRoulette.com is weeding out the curious, camera-shy voyeurs who use the chat service much like a one-way mirror.  The chat service now prompts users to “enable your camera” in order to play a “new game.”

Sources:
http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/posted/archive/2010/02/25/chatroulette-get-your-random-chat-on.aspx
http://www.etownian.com/article.php?id=2259 http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2010/02/webcam-chatroulette-generates-conversation—-and-controversy/1

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  • annoyedcollegestudent
    Annoyedteen:
    There's a fine line between "sheltering" your kids and protecting them from the perverts and pedos out there. How many people do you see in the real world waving their dicks around? (Hopefully none if humanity still has a shred dignity left.) But on the internet where outrageous things are legal and censorship is limited, that number skyrockets. If this was happening in private clubs on the street where they don't allow anyone under 18, I might understand (though strongly disapprove). But we're talking about the internet, where ANYONE can access just about ANYTHING if they know where to look. If you don't care that your kid is looking at dicks and boobs on the internet, that's your problem; but for plenty of other intelligent, caring parents with common sense using parental blocks and filters is key. They are doing something called "protecting their kid's innocence", something that we as a population should be doing as a whole. Kids are only innocent for so long before they turn into emotional, hormonally-unstable teens. Why ruin that for them at an early age by exposing them to things that should still be for "adults only"?
  • annoyedteen
    You can't protect your child from everything. They have to learn whats appropriate, and what's not, and one day when they encounter real danger and your not there they will not be able to handle it appropriately. Stop sheltering your kids from the real world, it will only make things worse. I was exposed to alot of things when I was younger. (nothing too bad but my parents weren't overprotective). This gave me a greater understanding of the world and allowed me to become more independent and more safe in the long run. It made me more cautious about the internet, and other things about life in general. I learned not to trust strangers, basic things your kids should know. If they don't realize chat roulette is unsafe for their age just by going on the site, you should be having a serious talk with your kids.
  • Marge
    This chatroulette stuff is absolutely filthy. It's like the devil decided to setup a website. I hope they ban the internet soon because now the gays have got in on the action (like they always do) with their awful m4mroulette and gayroulette sites. I hope god strikes out the internet. Thanks a lot Al Gore... you godless son of a b*%^ch.
  • Mackenzie
    Well said Overprotective Father! However, what happens when parents are not able to be around their child at all times of the day to monitor their child's Internet use? I think filters can be great for parents who might be on the go and are not necessarily able to keep such a close watchful eye on their kids. Chris, I see where you are coming from, but I think it's the smaller situations that occur on ChatRoulette.com that can lead to something much more substantial. We have to fight the problem on all ends, not only when cases lead to rapes or suicides.
  • overprotective father
    Hmm... what is a 7 year old child doing unsupervised on a computer surfing the web? My youngest is 11 and he doesn't surf without an adult in the room. Don't need filters, I am the filter.
  • Overprotective Mother
    Hmm..the thought that parents are overprotective for installing a parental control on their own personal computer to limit their 7 year old child's exposure to someone masturbating on camera is slightly off. No one is suggesting the site itself be controlled.
  • Chris
    Dear Overprotective Mothers,

    The time has come to accept the fact that your children are going to see things you don't want them to. The Internet is a great place. It's got some pitfalls, like lack of privacy, but it's a great tool. Don't screw it up by imposing filters and restricting access. Instead, teach your child not to hand out personal information on places like Chatroulette. Teach them to click the next button when they see an exposed body part, or to just close the window alltogether. For Christ's sake the things you see on Chatroulette don't even come close to some of the other horrible things on the Internet.

    If you were to impose a filter on your child, he/she would likely find a way to get around it. It's not hard to break parental controls.
  • Linda
    I just went on there. And I saw some exposed body parts. I'm considering installing an Internet filter for my kids. Any suggestions?
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