Safety and moderation

Random chat only works if people feel safe enough to turn up. This page explains, in plain language, what OmegleNet does to keep chats safe, what you can do yourself, and what happens when someone breaks the rules. The binding versions are the Terms, Community Guidelines and Privacy Policy.

Adults only

OmegleNet is for people aged 18 and over. Everyone confirms their age before their first chat, and reports of a user who seems to be under 18 are treated as urgent. OmegleNet isn’t currently available in the United Kingdom or Australia.

How video chats are moderated

• Random safety snapshots. During video chats, at random moments (a few seconds after you connect, then roughly every 20–40 seconds), a small still picture of your camera, or of the video you receive, is checked by an automated image classifier for nudity and other prohibited content.
• People review the flags. Flagged snapshots and reports go to our moderators, who decide what happens. Longer or permanent bans are always decided by a person.
• No recordings. We never record video or audio. Snapshots are single still images, not recordings.
• Short retention. Snapshots that aren’t flagged are deleted within 90 days. Flagged ones are kept as evidence for up to a year, or longer if a legal investigation needs them.

Voice-only and text chats are never snapshotted. Text messages are kept for 30 days so reports can be checked.

Tools you control

• Skip. Move on to someone new at any moment (F2 or Alt+N).
• Report. One tap (F9 or Alt+R) ends the chat and sends a report to our moderators. You can still report the previous stranger for 2 minutes after a chat ends, or use the report form later.
• Block. Never be matched with that person again.
• Mute and camera off. Turn your microphone or camera off at any time.
• Text only. Don’t want to be seen or heard? Use text chat.

Your IP address stays private

On many video chat sites, calls connect your device directly to the stranger’s, which can expose your IP address and rough location. On OmegleNet every call goes through our own relay servers, so the person you talk to never sees your IP address.

What’s not allowed

• Anyone under 18.
• Nudity, sexual content, or anything sexual involving minors, which we report to the authorities.
• Harassment, hate, threats and spam.
• Recording other people or sharing their details.

The full list, and what happens for each kind of violation, is in the Community Guidelines.

Bans and appeals

People who break the rules are suspended or banned. If you think a suspension was a mistake, you can appeal. A person reviews every appeal, and if we got it wrong we lift the suspension and delete the flagged snapshot.

Child safety and law enforcement

We have zero tolerance for child sexual abuse material. How we handle it, and how we respond to requests from the police and other authorities, is set out in our law enforcement and child safety policy.

Report a problem

If you see illegal content or a safety problem, use the report form. If someone is in immediate danger, call your local emergency number now.