In recent weeks Chatroulette online video chat has gotten some interesting press. While the debate still rages over whether or not this online chat software is appropriate for the age group that it targets, the funnier aspects are grabbing some top search spots of their own.

One of the top spots is occupied by chatroulettepictures.com and features a representative sampling of the nutty things people do to make the chatroulette online experience as interesting as it is.

Photobucket and Facebook also have growing segments dedicated to the chatroulette picture posting frenzy and popular internet information sources like Huffington Post, Buzzfeed and Dailydigit are popping up at the top of search results.

The new-found fame for Chatroulette continues to grow as television programs like the Daily Show spoof encounters on this video chat software forum. It remains to be seen if Chatroulette will find a way to become commercially viable. Right now there seems to be a bit of controversy over the notion that this is more of an adult chat site and much of the content is inappropriate for young adolescents. Until those running the site find a way to tame that beast, we may just be left with another great idea that lost steam because of the seedy elements involved in this online chat medium.

It started innocently enough. 17 year old Andrey Ternovskiv of Moscow, Russia was simply toying with some online chat software and a fun idea for doing some online chatting with friends. But, as with many things, this idea has somehow turned into the latest online chat phenomenon.

Ternovskiv was looking for something different than the static, predictable format of just Skyping with friends. He is a teenager and was looking for a way to spice up the online chat experience. His idea was to create a way for friends to connect to a site and connect with random individuals to chat online with the webcam watching all the way. What has evolved is a phenomenon that has tens of thousands of followers… and counting.

Sites are popping up all over the internet showcasing mostly funny and sometimes disturbing pictures recorded during chatroulette sessions. Whether it is curiousity that draws people in or boredom, there is always something interesting waiting for the chatroulette user. While many of the encounters on chatroulette.com are innocent enough, there are plenty of oddballs out there just waiting for the next connection. Don’t be surprised if the next person in the queue is partially or completely disrobed, or doing something perverse with various and sundry body parts. This is definitely not for the faint-of-heart and most definitely not for young kids. While you can simply click the “next” button if you don’t like what you see… you still have to see it to make the decision.
All a person needs to participate in a chatroulette, free online chat is a computer, internet connection and a web cam. Go to chatroulette.com and click the “Play” button at the top of the screen and watch the top window on the left side of the screen. This is your “partner”. Don’t like what you see? No problem, click the next button and move on to someone else.

If you’re wondering what this is all about, give it a shot. I’m guessing that if you are older than 19 it will get pretty old pretty fast, but it sure makes for an interesting evening.

Chatroulette is the latest internet craze that randomly connects users to strangers from all over the world, via their webcams.

Child advocates are expressing growing concern over the live online chat site that regularly features people disrobing or performing other lewd acts for the entertainment of the person at the other end. They further express concern that chatroulette could be providing a platform for child predators who have easy access to a forum that most certainly features adolescents. The Chatroulette site clearly states that the user must be 16 to use the live online chat, but doubts have been expressed that this ruled is routinely followed. Users report that a great deal of what goes on in within the Chatroulette windows is regularly obscene. Some claim that on the site, for every one cool person you talk to, you get 25 weirdos or perverts.

Access is fairly basic. Fire up your webcam, surf over to Chatroulette.com and click the play button. You are then greeted with folks from all over the world on you computer screen… ready for online chat. You can take a look and decide if you want to chat with that person… if not, hit the next button and move on to someone new.

What can parents do?

1. Make sure there is no computer in your child’s room. Kids don’t need a webcam in their room.

2. Block Chatroulette on your child’s Web browser.

3. Talk to your kids about what the site is and why you do not want them on a live online chat.

Child advocates continue to monitor the site, but as it gains in popularity and the controversy continues to swirl, the adolescent brain will be drawn to the adventure of it all and it will be in the hands of parents to monitor their children’s online activities.