Parents' Guide to Chatroulette

Website http://www.chatroulette.com
Chatroulette Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

By Jacqueline Rupp , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 18+

Instant, random video chatting is creepy -- and risky.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 18+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 51 parent reviews

 

 

See all 51 parent reviews
age 15+

Based on 55 kid reviews

Kids say this website is highly inappropriate for all ages, filled with explicit content and predatory behavior, making it unsafe for anyone, especially children. Many reviews express extreme disapproval and warn against its lack of privacy and the likelihood of encountering disturbing images and interactions.

  • inappropriate content
  • dangerous interactions
  • not for kids
  • lack of privacy
  • strong disapproval
Summarized with AI
 

 

See all 55 kid reviews

Privacy Rating Fail

This product does not have a sufficient privacy policy.

  • Unclear whether personal information is sold or rented to third parties.
  • Unclear whether personal information are shared for third-party marketing.
  • Unclear whether this product displays personalised advertising.
  • Unclear whether data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • Unclear whether this product uses a user's information to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Unclear whether this product creates and uses data profiles for personalised advertisements.
Learn more about our privacy ratings

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 51 ):
Kids say ( 55 ):

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.

Talk to Your Kids 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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