The Risks of ChatRoulette

If you've heard anything about Chatroulette, you've probably heard the most about nudity and other shocking behavior. Statistics compiled by TechCrunch in 2010 showed that one out of every eight connections was likely to contain something sexually explicit. While Chatroulette's rules specifically prohibit nudity, it's up to users to report it -- meaning you'll encounter it if you're on the site long enough. Another famous prank involves a user who would simulate hanging himself to alarm and shock other viewers.

One of the last notes on Chatroulette's homepage is, "it is possible for a person to record your webcam. Scammers are known to do this and then blackmail a person with the footage." It should probably alarm you that this happens often enough that it needs to be warned about on the homepage. When using Chatroulette, avoid sharing identifying information and do not engage in any behavior you wouldn't want your family to know about.

While users under the age of 18 are not permitted per the rules of the site, that doesn't stop minors from using the service. Minors on Chatroulette can be exposed to nudity and abuse from predators. Age doesn't protect users from being outright nasty to each other as well -- while you might meet a nice stranger, you might also meet someone who has nothing better to do than treat you terribly. You may also encounter users requesting you to engage in inappropriate behavior.

Reporting a stream for offensive or abusive behavior is simple -- click F4, or click the "Report & Next" button on the website. When a user is reported three times in five minutes, he is temporarily banned from using the service as a measure against offensive behavior on the website.