Omegle, one of the most well-known platforms for video chat with strangers, has ended its services after 14 years. The site, founded in 2009, stopped working because users don’t use it properly, This caused a wave of lawsuits against creator Leif K-Brooks.
In a statement published on the website’s portal, Brooks stated that supporting the platform “is neither financially nor psychologically sustainable.”
Founded when Brooks was 18, the page’s creator said, “This page was made to capitalize on the things he loved about the internet while also introducing a kind of social spontaneity that he didn’t think existed anywhere else.”
Omegle’s predecessor It consisted of entering into a random conversation with another person, which could be ended by any user. Then each netizen can start another chat again.
(Read more: Elon Musk claims ‘X’ will also be a dating app.)
However, the reason for the closure is due to people misusing the platform. “Over the years people have used it to learn about new cultures, get advice, ease feelings of loneliness, even get to know love (…) but unfortunately “In virtuality, tools can be used for good or evil.”Brooks explained in his statement.
The minimum age to enter the platform was 13, and often minors were randomly matched with older people, many of whom were criminals.
In fact, according to BBC news, The app has been sued many times due to allegations of pedophilia.
Brooks said he made his platform available to authorities to track criminals, many of whom These investigations resulted in arrests. “But the latest attacks do not seem constructive at all. The only way to please these people is to stop providing this service,” Brooks said.
Now you have to face the costs of litigation as well as the operating expenses of the page. “As much as I wish the circumstances were different, the stress and expense of this struggle Current expenses to operate Omegle and combat its abuse are prohibitive.. Running Omegle is no longer financially or psychologically sustainable. “Honestly, I don’t want to have a heart attack when I’m 30,” he added.
Finally, Brooks thanked those who used the platform correctly throughout these 14 years. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who uses Omegle for positive purposes and to everyone who contributes to the site’s success in any way. I’m so sorry I can’t continue to fight for you,” the founder concluded.
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Source: Exame
