Video chat website Omegle shuts down after rising misuse incites controversy, stress for proprietor

Citing rising misuse of the platform, widespread video chat platform Omegle is shutting down.

Founder and programmer Leif K-Brooks introduced the closure of the positioning Thursday in a weblog publish the place he stated the stress of operating the positioning was an excessive amount of for one individual.

“Operating Omegle is no longer sustainable, financially nor psychologically,” he wrote. “Frankly, I don’t want to have a heart attack in my 30s.”

Omegle burst on the web in 2009 as a video chatroom that randomly linked customers primarily based on particular pursuits. The website exploded in recognition and shortly grew to become one of the vital widespread chat websites on-line.

Controversy adopted nevertheless as customers criticized Omegle for the proliferation of abusive exercise on the positioning and the positioning grew to become embroiled in quite a few lawsuits.

In his weblog publish, Mr. Brooks stated that the COVID-19 pandemic introduced a surge of latest customers to the positioning, one thing he was not ready to deal with.

“As much as I wish circumstances were different, the stress and expense of this fight — coupled with the existing stress and expense of operating Omegle, and fighting its misuse — are simply too much,” he wrote.

He laments the demise of his website and of the web that after was.

“I worry that, unless the tide turns soon, the internet I fell in love with may cease to exist,” he wrote. “And in its palace, we will have something closer to a souped-up version of TV — focused largely on passive consumption, with much less opportunity for active participation and genuine human connection.”