Omegle Shut down after 14 years - and 50 lawsuits

Written By Emily Jackman

by Katie Light

The video website Omegle has shut down after claims of abuse. The service randomly placed users in online chats with strangers, with the idea of meeting new people, and building connections with others around the world.  

After 14 years, however, it was a “need” to shut it down. In half that time, the site has been mentioned in more than 50 cases against paedophiles, and founder Leif Brooks said that operating the website was “no longer sustainable, financially nor psychologically”.  

The website had around 73 million visitors a month, according to analysts at website watchers Semrush, mostly from India, the US, the UK, Mexico and Australia. After many years of Omegle users sharing their stories online, legal cases began to bloom.  

 

Omegle has been a source of entertainment for people for years, gaining more popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic.  

 

Emily Jackman
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