 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Chatroulette
Common Sense Media says
Instant, random video chatting is creepy -- and risky.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Chatroulette allows anyone with a webcam and Internet connection to instantly video chat with any other visitor anywhere in the world. Even if you don't have a web cam, you can still use the site and view the other people using it. All you do is go to the site's homepage, click a button to sync your webcam, and you are instantly connected randomly with other users. The roulette part comes in because if you don't want to chat with the person you are paired with, you just click Next and another person randomly appears. You can continue to click Next -- and so can the other user -- until you find someone you want to chat with. The site requires no registration or age verification. In our visits, and in news coverage about the site, most of the people using the site appear to be masturbating men -- often with the webcam focused on their genitals. The randomness of the site means that you just never know and can't control who you are going to interact with next. Besides the sex, there's also the danger of impressionable teens meeting total strangers -- and since there is no content filter on the site, you have no idea where the conversation could lead. Besides these risks there's also the ease with which rejection occurs. Anyone who visits will inevitably get passed aside for someone else. Finally, adding insult to injury, there are the people who visit just to mock other users.
Is it any good?
The first time on CHATROULETTE is an unnerving experience. Almost immediately upon entering the site (there's no log in or registration) you're face-to-face with a total stranger whose saying "Hi" and asking you where you're from. It's an experience unlike anything else on the Internet right now. Created by a 17-year-old student in Russia, Chatroulette combinines the social networking of Facebook, with the webcam abilities of Skype this site takes full advantage of the anonymous capability of the Internet. You are just "You" and the person on the other end of the screen is just "Stranger." The site itself isn't much to look at, just bare bones text boxes and camera squares, but really that is enough in itself. The technology isn't new by any means, however this use definitely is. The scariness of seeing a string of strange men's naked torsos is enough to send most people fleeing from the site in terror, however there is something strangely addicting to this social "gambling" that speaks volumes to the human condition. Look for more regulated sites springing up that tweak this concept and reign in the content in the near future. But whatever you do, don't let your kids use it.
Online interaction: Web cams, microphone chatting, and texting onscreen seem to all lead to some questionable behavior. Of course, not everyone is looking for cheap thrills, but you don't have the power to weed people out too easily.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why this site poses so many risks to teens. What basic internet safety rules does the site violate?
Families can talk about why people would choose to visit a site like this to talk to random people. Would there be a way to make this intriguing concept more safe? Do you think this site will remain completely annonymous and will it become regulated?
Families can talk about the changing ways we interact as a society. How does it change how you socialize if you can simply click "Next" and move on to the next person, without the need for an explanation or even a goodbye. Do you think being anonymous like this gives you the chance to behave in ways you wouldn't with someone you knew. Will this make it easier for people to be mean to one another? If you'll never see someone again, is it easier to not think of their feelings?
These webcam interactions are set up as private anonymous chats between one cam and another. This sometimes leads users to do things they normally wouldn't do online, like appear naked or do something sexual. Is this a good idea even for adults? Are these interactions really private? Is there the potential for these images and videos to be spread all over the internet via screen grabs and video recordings. Can a site like this be just as dangerous as sexting?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Would you allow a total stranger of any age or sex into your child or teen's bedroom? Sites like this make that possible--without you even being there to supervise! Omegle* is another scary one to watch out for.
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AGE
It's Disgusting, Kinky, and Just Plain Strange
This website is a horrible thing for children (and everyone else). Men can be seen masturbating on camera. I have a friend that came across a couple having oral sex. I also have a friend who saw a woman doing some very suggestive acts with a vibrator. She proceeded to ask him "Are you erect yet?" to which he responded, "What were you expecting?" She responded, bluntly, "Masturbation." This is not a site you want your kids on.
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Kid, 12 years old
March 29, 2010
AGE
Horrible.
Well it's not perfect for kids NOR older kids.Even by just looking at the picture common sense media has.It doesn't sound or LOOK safe.I DO NOT think people should go on this website.
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AGE
Chatroulette
Chatroulette is a dangerous website for kids. Every video chat is randomly chosen and usually the other person is there for sex. You never know what your kids will be seeing. Anything from alcohol use, to marijuana smoking, to masturbation and language. Safety may also be an issue. As people might ask where you live, or your phone number and etc.
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AGE
Penis Cam. >___<
MOST OF 'EM ARE CREEPS.
They're all 50+ year old men , who have their webcams on their penis and rubbing them. It makes you want to vomit.
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Kid, 12 years old
March 30, 2010
AGE
That is the worst chatting site ever! Random chatting is way bad and it allows everything even porn.
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AGE
You will find many creepers/perverts
I saw all the reviews for this because on my facebook all my friends were commenting saying stuff like "Hey I was waiting for you on Chatroulette last night!" And so I got curious and went on the site. I set up my webcam and I went on. The first person that came up was a female my age. I thought so far, "this isn't so bad!" But she nexted me. So I just went to the next chat. It was a blank room. I hit next and I saw a guy, he looked about like he was in his 40's and he was jacking off. I was very disturbed, but something urged me to keep trying. So I hit next and I was prepared for the worst. I saw a guy who looked about 17. He was in his bedroom with all the lights turned off. The only light was his laptop and the TV behind him. I saw the expression on his face and from what I could tell he was psyched that I was female. He called me sexy, then I saw two more faces appear. Apparently he had friends over. I just rolled my eyes but I didn't leave. Then they started jacking off. I saw another boy in the backround looking at the screen and he was chanting "strip! strip!" I just exited out and I never typed "chatroulette" again.
PLEASE be prepared for those kinds of people.
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AGE
Fun for five minutes in the company of friends, 18+!
I have been on this site a couple times but only under the following condition: In a room with several of my friends with a good mix of guys and girls. Visiting this website with other people can make it a funny experience. I can even note one time when by some 1/20000th chance we landed on a friend of ours at the same college in another dorm. That being said, I would NEVER visit this website alone. Being alone really adds to the creep factor and emphasizes the fact that, as Common Sense says, everything is done in real time. People have been known to take screen captures (taking pictures of the screen) unbeknownst to the other user. And these a literally strangers. It's taking anonymous chat room surfing to a new level. And then there are the male genitalia... from what my friends and I have seen, males far outweigh females on this site. It is not an exaggeration to say that everything 5th person comes to a close-up webcam view of a man pleasuring himself. And there is a report button, but the damage has been done by that point. All in all, from what I understand, the Russian creator of the site had very innocent intentions, and his idea was really cute. But unfortunately, as things on the internet tend to do, it has taken a very nasty turn.
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AGE
Capital NO
I never plan on going to this site, It's gross and not good for kids and tweens even teens!!
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AGE
Perfect hangout for creepy old men
I tried this site once, and it was a horrible experience. Everyone on there is creepy old men who only want kids to do inappropriate stuff for them. Parents, i advise you to block this site, it just makes your kids an easy target for pedophiles.
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| Genre: | Social Networking |
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