Controversial video chat website Chatroulette has been resurrected during the coronavirus lockdowns with daily users more than doubling since the start of 2020
- The controversial video chat site Chatroulette has flourished during COVID-19
- According to founder Andrey Ternovskiy, daily users have more than doubled
- He expects the user base to grow to triple as many users within a month
Chatoulette’s daily user numbers have more than doubled from 50,000 to more than 120,000 since the beginning of the year as the world goes into lockdown over the coronavirus.
The site, which first launched in 2009, randomly connects users with other strangers in a video chat session that either side can end at any point.
Founder Andrey Ternovskiy believes the platform has become even more useful now that many people are shut indoors and deprived of regular social contact.
The infamous video chat site Chatroulette has seen its daily users more than double during the COVID-19 pandemic, growing from 50,000 at the start of 2020 to more than 120,000 currently
‘Our numbers are progressively increasing as more people have to stay in place,’ he told The Daily Beast.
‘There are some people who naturally stay at home, and now everybody has to. They’re rediscovering Chatroulette.’
‘I didn’t think usage would double. I didn’t expect it. Soon it’ll be tripled.’
Ternovskiy originally developed the site as a hobby project to practice coding when he was 17-years-old.
The site provoked a number of controversies during its initial wave of popularity.
One family reported that their 11-year-old had been coerced into stripping by an adult during a videochat.
The experience had been so unexpected and traumatic, the family reported it left the child suicidal and in need of counseling.
In 2013, UK support foundation Cybersmile said they got 15 calls a week from parents reporting that their children had been harassed or abused on the site.
According to site founder Andre Ternovskiy, Chatroulette has helped people deal with the emotional and psychological challenges of isolation. ‘Our numbers are progressively increasing as more people have to stay in place,’ he said
The site has revised its rules and guidelines after years of media controversy. To minimize the chances of sexual harassment and abuse of minors, the site specifically bans any sexual content from Filtered Chats
The complaints included bullying, blackmail, and solicitation of sexual material from minors.
Chatroulette has since revised a number of its policies and rules to make it easier to ban users and try and prevent abuse.
Chats are now split into two categories: Filtered chats, where no sexual content whatsoever is allowed; and Random/Unfiltered chats, where no children or minors are allowed.
The site’s guidelines also focuses on consent and consideration.
‘When in doubt ask your partner for consent,’ the site guidelines advise.
‘Treat your partner the way you want to be treated.’
