Online voyeurs are flocking to the random thrills of an 'addictive' new website that links strangers' webcams.
The new website that has been described as 'surreal', 'addictive' and 'frightening' is proving a sensation around the world and attracting a reputation as a haven for no-holds-barred, explicit material.
When users visit the site and switch on their webcams, they are suddenly connected to another, randomly chosen person who is doing precisely the same thing somewhere else in the world.
Once they are logged in together, chatters can do anything they like: talk to each other, type messages, entertain each other - or just say goodbye, hit the 'next' button and move on in an attempt to find somebody more interesting. A large contingent of people seem intent on using the service's string of random connections as the basis for some sort of sex game.
I have visited the site - all in the name of research you understand - and I saw many young people just sitting staring blankly at their webcams. It was rather sad to think that some of the younger generation find this a form of entertainment. Me, I'd much rather read a book or go for a walk, but perhaps that's because I didn't see anyone on the site who looked over 25!
Oops, nearly forgot to give you the link if you want to have a look, it is Chatroulette.
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19 comments:
I tried this a few nights ago. It was profoundly depressing. Like you, all I saw was a series of young Americans staring glumly at the screen. One had some friends with him, and as soon as my image came up on his screen he shouted "Hey, dude, watch out for the reflections!" and they all collapsed laughing. When I checked my own cam output, I could see that he had a point. A single lightbulb overhead and a thinning scalp covering made quite a hotspot. I felt terribly old and logged out. I haven't dared go back.
And another thing - did you get a lot of people pointing their willies at the camera? I think I had five unwanted sausages in as many minutes.
I felt ancient Richard yet somehow more alive. Only one willie was on show. Well I thought it was a willie but it was such a poor specimen I was tempted to tell the owner to put it away as it certainly wasn't doing his street cred much good. I didn't, I decided to log out instead.
I felt overwhelmingly sad - this is how modern communications are taking us, with "random strangers" (their description) encountering each other for a matter of seconds before moving on to the next encounter. In twenty years, no-one will have the attention span to read the cooking time on a tin of beans.
On the other hand, you have prompted me to give it another try. I found a chap in a red mask and gave him a thumbs-up. He returned the gesture, and then we had a drink together before we both got bored and hit 'next'. Then it crashed Firefox.
As I said in the post it's so disappointing to see the young spending time on this site. Surely they can't get to know people this way. Maybe I'm just old fashioned.
Total misuse of technical toys.Something badly wrong in the way these people are reared.Or some one left the gate open at the funny farm.
I tried it for about three minutes, which was as much as I could stand.
There must be platforms like this that actually mediate something a bit more meaningful. Aren't there?
It's bordering on tragic isn't it Apogee. I can't get my head round it really.
You beat me WW, I think I managed two. Skype uses cam recorders and it is a good example of the technology. I know many of my generation use it for keeping in touch and 'seeing' family and friends, but this latest one...
Maybe it'll just be a 9 day wonder. Let's hope so.
Plenty for the Internet Safety Police to get exited about here. Never had a webcam, see no point in it.
A cam can be handy if you have friends or family you want to see while talking to them. That's the only use I see really banned.
Remember they can record live streaming so watch out! My young lad will be using this next if he finds oot!
Morning CD. I'll no be watching it again. I'd rather watch paint dry. :)
I haven't seen this site before (and still haven't) but what an interesting idea... no, really.
Sure, its going to appeal to the younger set rather than an older one but what a great way for complete strangers to meet. This is the Internet at its best*; when it allows people to explore the world beyond their own borders, cultures or status.
Yeah okay, this service will no doubt be abused, willies will be waved and egos will be bruised but who cares? The world is a depressing enough place as it is, so let the kids have a bit of fun.
* A small declaration:
Whilst chatting on a technology website many moons ago (on which participants often used webcams)... I met and later fell in love with my 'significant other' from nearly half way around the world. Seven years later we're still going strong. So don't knock the possibilities, its a new age out there.
John, I'm not knocking social media in the least because I too have made a couple of good friends through it - in fact a group of us still have a night out a couple of times a year.
Maybe whoever set this one up should do one only for the over 50s or say 40-50s and stage the age groups. Would save the older generations from having to view so many willies maybe. ;)
Now if the willie-wavers surrounded themselves with annuals or perennials and they were able to give details of them, that would be a different matter. I like gardening and am always looking for new ideas!
I do like the idea of having, or being able to select, different age ranges.... although I suppose that does kinda dilute the roulette element a little. And I'd hazard a guess that there are probably just as many 60 year old willy-wavers as 16 year old ones?
I'd keep trying my dear, you never know, that nice Mr Titchmarsh might be on there right now... you might get lucky ;-)
I'm lucky enough thanks John. :)
I would wave my willy, but the "zoom" feature on my cam does not appear to be working.
Have they invented 30x zoom cams yet WW? You're not the first to complain about their cams you know. ;)
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