It is not always possible to be fully aware of everything that your child does online. Most of the time it is healthy social interaction with friends, doing schoolwork, playing fun games or exploring areas of interest.
Occasionally children will come across something a little more sinister, sometimes recommended by friends, without full realisation of the dangers. That’s our role as parents (and teachers) to ensure our children are fully aware of the consequences of their online actions.
One such site was Omegle, a virtual chat room that offers random users unmoderated chats with one another from anywhere in the world.
From Common Sense Media: “Parents need to know that Omegle is a chat site, and that its catchphrase — “Talk to strangers!” — says it all. Users are supposed to be 18 or older, but you just need to check a box to indicate your age, so younger viewers could easily access the site, which pairs two strangers together in a chat. Though both parties are initially anonymous, either could ask for and share personal information.”
The article, “What is Omegle? What parents need to know”, says “The video chat has an adult, moderated and unmoderated option that can be easily accessible by underage users. Clicking the button, the users will be directly on live video and text chat, without warning which unfortunately allows for children to be easily exposed to inappropriate content in a matter of seconds.”
The eSafety Commissioner’s web site reported that Omegle ceased operation in November 2023. Now Omegle has reappeared in a new variation called OmegleMe. Despite claims that it is a safe and secure site, this version raises the same concerns about children safety as its predecessor. It appears to work in the same way and is therefore an attractive site for unscrupulous people.
More information on Omegle is available on both these sites, but it is clear that children need to be aware of the dangers of such anonymous sites. I urge parents to have a discussion with their children about their online activity.
Michael Torsello
Head of Digital Learning