RIP Omegle: Here’s the reason behind its shutdown

HIGHLIGHTS

Remember the time when WhatsApp and Instagram weren’t that popular, Omegle got a lot of attention? Yes, the platform that allowed you to talk to strangers! We could chat, talk, and even video call with anyone around the world. But sadly, it’s time to bid farewell to this popular website. Yes, you heard that right, Omegle is shutting down after 14 years. Want to know why? Read along.

What is Omegle?

Omegle was founded in 2009. Its USP was that it was an anonymous online chatting platform. Users didn’t have to register on it or share any other details. They could chat with strangers without revealing their personal information. This was a unique concept which attracted a lot of users. They had the option to choose if they wished to engage over text, voice, or even videos. Users could even filter people through the ‘Add your interests’ option to meet strangers with similar interests.

Also read: Top 9 Omegle Alternatives To Chat With Strangers

Why did it shut down?

It was during COVID-19 that Omegle picked up again and saw a surge in users when people were in lockdown and couldn’t go out and meet people. 

But everything wasn’t good about Omegle either. People had started to misuse it for their own interests. Complaints about pedophilia, racism, abuse, and sexism were being raised. On top of all that, Omegle was also being used as a means for child sex abuse and nudity.

The company has been dealing with all these issues for a long time. As a response, Omegle created dedicated chat rooms and even worked with law enforcement agencies to increase the age limit from 13 to 18. But since there wasn’t any way to verify the age during registration, people engaging in racism and nudity got away. 

Also read: Best Omegle alternatives in 2023, if you want new apps to chat with strangers

Since more bad was happening than good, Omegle thought it was best to shut it down. The website’s owner, Leif K-Brooks, said about the move, “stress and expense of operating Omegle, and fighting its misuse – are simply too much.”