CHATROULETTE

NEW YORK, NY – The internet has pumped out its latest invention. It’s not necessarily a good one!
Chatroulette is the latest online craze that the internet has coughed up. It puts a new spin on the concept of having pen pals or random strangers that we wrote letters to. It can be very interesting for adults, perhaps a little bizarre but it certainly has the ability to be sexually explicit. For kids, it isn’t safe, it’s easy to use, it’s free and there are no barriers to keep kids off of it.
Chatroulette gives you the ability to talk sports with a random stranger, watch someone play an instrument or simply share in an awkward staring contest with someone you will probably never see again.
Chatroulette generates a live webcam connection between you and a random stranger every time you click “Next”. If you’re not happy with what’s on your screen, you can click to find another random live person and a new face pops up within a second or so. There is no software or registration required.
The website does say you have to be at least 16 years old to use the service, but there is no age authentication. Therein lies the problem. Not only are you encouraged to talk to strangers, but young eyes can see a naked middle-aged man just as easily as they can find a tween girl singing a Beyonce song. The problem also lies in the fact that individuals can save any chat they share with a stranger and record and video and then do with it as they please. Perhaps putting it up on youtube.
Ironically the site was created by Andrey Ternovskiy, a 17-year-old high school student in Moscow. His reason being that he was bored of chatting people that he knew. An interesting concept, but there is certainly some barriers and walls that need to be constructed to protect the young and innocent. And to ban any foul play.