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Do you use free video chats for dating? Follow these 7 safety rules

In modern society, there is an extremely high demand for quality services for dating and communication. Fewer people meet offline every year. Most prefer online dating in its various formats — from social networks to dating sites and applications. Among all these varieties, free video chats stand apart. They are becoming very popular every year. On the other hand, not all contemporaries know how to use them effectively and safely.

Today, we want to discuss the exact video chat dating format, talk about its advantages and disadvantages, give a few examples, and share recommendations on how to communicate safely in video chat. We are aware that everyone does not follow this format.

Popular free video chats and their advantages

Omegle was the first random chat in history. This is a fact, initially, it had only the text chat and there was no opportunity to communicate with random interlocutors via video. Nonetheless, such an opportunity appeared six months after the launch of the service in early 2009. Hence, Omegle has attracted the attention of millions of users worldwide. Such popularity has forced many developers to use the main idea of​​ Omegle and implement it in their own way. Thus, numerous alternatives appeared, and in many ways, they are better than their predecessor.

Here is a small list of popular Omegle alternatives you should try:

There are several reasons for the growing popularity of free video chats. Firstly, its accessibility. Most of these platforms are either completely free or inexpensive. Secondly, they make it possible to meet and communicate just like in real life. You see the interlocutor, hear their voice, observe their gestures and manner of communication, etc. This is much better than the usual correspondence on a dating site or app. Thirdly, the prospects for dating in video chats are usually better than in classic web dating. To a large extent, it is due to live communication.

Additionally, it should be noted that there are much fewer fakes, bots, and all sorts of intruders in video chats. This format is simply inconvenient for them because it’s not like regular dating sites and applications. However, this does not mean that dating in random video chats is 100% safe; do not lower your guard. This is a fact!

7 basic rules for the safe use of video chats

The developers of many free video chats like Omegle are putting a lot of effort into making their platforms more secure and private. Nonetheless, you must remember that your safety on the Internet is always in your hands. Therefore, we want to provide you with some recommendations on how to date in video chats safely to enable you to avoid unpleasant consequences.

  1. Never disclose personal information to anyone

Remember that any of your information can be used against you. Now, we are not only talking about obvious data such as bank card numbers or your documents, but also about “everyday” activities in your place of work, the area in which you live, and so on. In general, do not rush to open up to new people until you are sure that they have no evil intentions. Do not forget that there are a lot of scammers on the Web seeking to defraud anyone they find.

  1. If the video chat can hide your face initially, use this

In general, the choice of free video chats with A/I masks is not as huge as we would like. However, there are many options. For example, there is Chatspin video chat where you can choose a virtual mask to hide your face from the interlocutor. When you decide to open up to them, you can easily remove the mask. This is very useful for those who are very careful about their anonymity and privacy. On the other hand, you must understand that some people do not want to communicate with people “without a face” and deliberately ignore them. Therefore, the choice is yours at this point.

  1. Be wary of any requests from the interlocutor.

There is a psychological technique of “small requests.” Let’s explain this as quickly as possible. This is when a person wants to ask you for something serious, they start with minor simple requests. Such a trick eventually leads to the fact that you become free when communicating with that person. This should not be allowed even with fairly close people, not to mention random interlocutors on the Internet. Therefore, in most cases, we recommend turning down various requests and not being led by the interlocutor, especially if these requests seem strange to you or cause discomfort. It’s better to end the conversation right away and move on.

  1. Report to moderators about inappropriate behavior of the interlocutor

In fact, you are not obliged to simply switch to the next interlocutor with one click and forget about the previous one. Any Omegle alternative provides you with this option. However, if a person behaves inappropriately, violates the rules of the site, becomes rude to you, and the like, it is still better to send a complaint to the moderators. The moderators will consider it, and if a violation is confirmed, they will take action. If you do not complain about the interlocutor, they will just continue to behave the same way as other people.

  1. Do not click on unverified links and do not download any file

This security rule works in video chats and everywhere on the Internet. Never click on suspicious links or download any files unless you are 100% sure that they are safe. A harmless URL can hide a phishing site. Sometimes, you could find some installation APK files containing virus software. Be extremely careful with controlling your actions on the Web.

  1. Do not rush to move to another platform for communication

Free video chat may not be the most convenient platform for communication. If the connection breaks, there is a high risk that you will no longer meet the same person because the system connects you with random interlocutors and rarely connects you to the same interlocutor. However, if a person persistently asks you to go to another site, messenger, and so on, take your time to study that person carefully. In this way, they may be trying to get more personal information about you. You have to be smart once they send you a link to some other platform for communication; see our previous paragraph.

  1. If communication with a person gives you discomfort, immediately switch to the next

Many people, out of courtesy, do not cut off communication in a video chat, even if they see that the dialogue is absolutely unpromising or unpleasant for them. It’s not worth doing that. You’re just wasting your own time and nerves. If you feel that it makes no sense to continue the conversation, switch to another interlocutor or close the application/browser tab. No need to communicate that way, otherwise your whole impression of random video chats will be destroyed. Communicate with people who are pleasant and interesting to you only. Gradually, free video chat will be a real find for you!

Summary

Modern alternatives to Omegle open up tremendous opportunities for us to meet and communicate on the Web. If, for some reason, you have been ignoring this format for a long time, we strongly recommend that you try it out.

Free video chat is a great opportunity to have a good time, make new acquaintances, and find friends, or even a soul mate. It is free, convenient, and functional!

We recommend that you try a few of the random video chats listed above and choose the best one that works for you. Also, do not forget about the rules of safe communication on the Web. They don’t work only in video chats!

Christopher Stern

Christopher Stern is a Washington-based reporter. Chris spent many years covering tech policy as a business reporter for renowned publications. He has extensive experience covering Congress, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Federal Trade Commissions. He is a graduate of Middlebury College. Email:[email protected]

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