Video chat service Omegle shuts down following years of user abuse claims:
NEW YORK -- Omegle, a video chat service that connects users with strangers at random, is shutting down after 14 years following ample misuse of the platform — particularly the sexual abuse of minors.
In a lengthy statement announcing the site's closure, founder Leif K-Brooks reflected on how Omegle was meant to connect people worldwide and "build on the things I loved about the Internet." But, he added that a dark side of the platform emerged.
"Virtually every tool can be used for good or for evil," Brooks wrote. "There can be no honest accounting of Omegle without acknowledging that some people misused it, including to commit unspeakably heinous crimes."
[...] As of Thursday morning, the Omegle website remained live with Brooks' statement, but its online video chat function was no longer visible.
Omegle is shutting down
Omegle is shutting down.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Saturday November 11 2023, @01:37AM (5 children)
Every predator in the world was probably using this one. I don't mean that everyone who used it was a predator, but predators would certainly be attracted to this - strongly. I might extend that a little: everyone who used Omegle was either a predator, or stupid. Are these the same people who responded to Nigerian princes and princesses whose money had to be transferred to an American or European bank?
“I have become friends with many school shooters” - Tampon Tim Walz
(Score: 2) by Tork on Saturday November 11 2023, @03:23AM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 2) by darkfeline on Saturday November 11 2023, @10:48AM (3 children)
You'd think law enforcement would also be using it.
Remember that genius move to shut down prostitution on craigslist or some such site, ostensibly to prevent human trafficking, which ended up driving traffickers to other sites which were less easier trackable by law enforcement and ultimately resulted in more people being in danger?
Always mind Chesterton's fence.
Join the SDF Public Access UNIX System today!
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 11 2023, @04:02PM (1 child)
> You'd
thinkhope law enforcement would also be using it.FTFY.
In my observation and humble opinion, most "law enforcement" are lazy power and control mongers, not clever people who actually want to make society better. They only look at the short-term immediate control, including cops shooting people. Fix that and you might do a lot for the world.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 11 2023, @06:30PM
Yes to this. At least in some things I've read, cops are actually selected as people that are easily indoctrinated and controlled by their bosses.
I do my best to avoid contact with cops, it just seems like a game with the deck stacked against me, in so many ways.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 11 2023, @05:19PM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backpage [wikipedia.org]
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Barenflimski on Saturday November 11 2023, @02:56AM (8 children)
Its so sad that you can't even have a site that just introduces people without it turning into a total mess
(Score: 2, Informative) by Deep Blue on Saturday November 11 2023, @11:10AM (7 children)
It is. And the greatest loss of all is that the Dooo and that piano dude (forgot his name) will not be playing to random people anymore.
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Saturday November 11 2023, @04:18PM (6 children)
Came here to mention the Dooo, thanks. I've never been on Omegle but being a guitar hacker I stumbled onto the Dooo's YT videos, which are some of my favorite. That guy is crazy talented, and seeing the kids' faces / reactions made it so much more fun. Mine, and maybe most people's favorite is that girl that says "if you're a starter you're a starter", but shortly later says "you played me for a fool".
And of course him playing a "Hello Kitty" guitar takes it to an even higher level.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHy1tlZnr7E [youtube.com]
(Score: 2, Informative) by Deep Blue on Saturday November 11 2023, @08:38PM (5 children)
I've never been to Omegle myself either. Being an introvert, thinking of something to say to complete strangers is not my strong suit even IRL, so no Omegle for me. I like the idea though.
I can't play a single song with my guitar yet, but since seeing the Dooo's YT videos, i've imagined that when i do learn some songs, playing to others would be a nice thing to do. I guess that won't happen, not that it would be close to happening any time soon anyways, most likely never.
Oh, the pieno dude is Frank Tedesco. You should check his videos too. Incredible.
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Saturday November 11 2023, @09:39PM (2 children)
Wait, introvert, has guitar, but can't play yet? How long have you had a guitar? I have a friend (maybe it's you) who inherited a guitar but he doesn't play. Have you taken any lessons yet? Tons of YT instructional videos, but 1-on-1 teaching will give you some structure and goals. A good teacher, and most are, will quickly figure out what you need to work on, where you might want to go with it, etc. I mostly play as a hobby, but I have played in front of people. It's not my thing to get up and entertain, but I'll do it if I'm pretty sure I know the stuff solid. Any styles of music, groups, guitarists, that you listen to?
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Deep Blue on Saturday November 11 2023, @10:31PM (1 child)
Let's say i've had it too long and i did buy it, but i have a lot going on, so not much time and energy. I'm not that young, and i guess i just lose motivation from time to time, cause it's just not going that well. I have and do take a limited number of lessons, but it is what it is. I like a wide range of music, but there is one particular style i'm trying to learn, but i won't reveal it, cause it would pin point my exact location on this sphere we call earth.
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Saturday November 11 2023, @11:48PM
Well at least you've tried. To me one of life's regrets is to wonder about, but never try something that's fairly easy to try. It's always there for you to try again someday. I'll always wish I was better than I am. I'm better than I ever expected I could be, but then these 12 year olds run circles around me and I wonder if I'm wasting precious time messing with guitar. I don't really put much time into it though. Sometimes it's fun.
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Sunday November 12 2023, @05:22PM (1 child)
So I watched a few Frank Tedesco vids, and thank you. Of course there are suggested videos, which led to videos of Barbara Dennerlein. I don't remember ever hearing of her, but I'm blown away. I know some B3 players. She has to be the best in the world. Her bass pedal footwork is mind-numbing even if that was all she was doing. Here's just one video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irC9ZrZ_x8I [youtube.com] It doesn't show her footwork so well, but many others do.
(Score: 2, Informative) by Deep Blue on Sunday November 19 2023, @07:51PM
Good that you enjoyed Frank's videos. I'll check Barbara's videos.
Anyway, here's Goodbye video to Omegle from the Dooo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q54X1jAhzl4 [youtube.com]
He will be continuing on OmeTV, which is great!
(Score: 5, Insightful) by YeaWhatevs on Saturday November 11 2023, @03:21AM (1 child)
This could have been fixed by demamding real identities, then forever banning the violators. Like virtually all internet platforms, this would have introduced "liquidity" problems, so it wasn't done. Or in other words, they couldn't stand to part with their precious pumped up stats and hoped the problem wasn't so bad, hope fueled by motivated reasoning and greed and fomo. Later it became apparent the pervs were running off the normies, but it was too late. So this "can be used for good or evil" line, what a crock of shit. If they had jumped on it early they could have fixed it, yes it would be a growth rate limit reducer, but if they really wanted that billion bucks they should know nobody wants in on a platform full of scammers and pervs.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 11 2023, @05:20PM
True anonymity is sacred.
(Score: 2) by Opportunist on Saturday November 11 2023, @07:22AM (2 children)
If you want some quality friends, you have to wade through all the dicks first [youtube.com].
(Score: 2) by kolie on Saturday November 11 2023, @08:39PM (1 child)
The WPH had greatly decreased on Omeagle in the last years. 2 was normal 4 was high.
* Wangs Per Hour
(Score: 2) by Opportunist on Sunday November 12 2023, @12:46PM
Well, now you know why I don't use it anymore.
If you can't give me dicks, honey, chicks ain't enough
Let me go look for somebody else
If you can't give me balls, cum like Niagara falls
Then just stay in love with yourself
(with apologies to Suzi Quatro)
(Score: 3, Insightful) by crafoo on Saturday November 11 2023, @01:16PM
I don't know about all that. whenever I hear, "think of the children" arguments I immediately assume something else is going on.