The free online website Omegle, which allows users to interact via chat and video calls with strangers across the world, has shut down its services after 14 years. The websites founder, Leif K-Brooks, said in an official statement that he made the decision because stress and expense of operating Omegle and fighting its misuse are simply too much.Omegle has officially shut down after 14 years. pic.twitter.com/agGJkd65KV— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 9, 2023Notably, Omegle was founded in 2009 and allowed users to interact with random people on the internet without revealing any personal details related to themselves. The anonymous online chat service connects users based on their personal interests. It did not compel the users to register to chat, which might be the reason behind its popularity. The platform received a surge in the number of users during the COVID-19 pandemic, as people were stuck in homes and couldnt interact with others.Child sex abuse and nudityHowever, the anonymous chat service provider was often held responsible, with users complaining about paedophilia, racism, abuse, and sexism on numerous occasions. In the last couple of years, Omegle has also witnessed a rise in child sex abuse and nudity. As per reports from the BBC, Omegle is linked to over 50 cases involving paedophiles across the UK, US, and Australia. Earlier, the short video hosting app TikTok banned sharing Omegle links due to concerns related to childrens involvement in inappropriate behavior on the platform. Omegle failed to create framework Although Omegle tried to eliminate the issue by introducing moderated chat rooms and increasing restrictions on age limits, the problem wasnt resolved as there wasnt any framework for the age verification process and people engaged in nudity and racism couldnt be held responsible.
