Explainer
What happened to Omegle?
For 14 years, Omegle let anyone talk to a random stranger with one click. In November 2023 it shut down for good. Here’s a short look at what happened, and how people meet new people by video today.
Start chatting freeFree · Adults 18+ · Works on phone and computer
Omegle closed in November 2023
Omegle launched in 2009 and became one of the best-known ways to chat with strangers. In November 2023, its founder announced it was shutting down, saying that running it had become too difficult, financially and psychologically, including the effort of fighting misuse of the site. The homepage was replaced with his farewell letter.
The problem was anonymity
Anyone could open Omegle without an account or an age check. That openness made it easy to use, and also easy to misuse. Moderating millions of anonymous video chats is extremely hard.
What a better version looks like
The fun of meeting someone new doesn’t need to disappear. It needs a few guardrails: knowing everyone is an adult, clear rules that are enforced, a quick way to skip or report, and a format that keeps first chats short and low-pressure.
How Bumped does it
On Bumped, every account passes a face age check (18+) before chatting. Chats start as 60-second rounds. If you both tap Stay, you keep talking and can add each other as friends. Nudity, harassment and scams are not allowed, and reports are reviewed.
Why people choose Bumped
Verified adults onlyEveryone passes a quick face age check (18+) before their first chat. No anonymous drop-ins.
60 seconds to say hiEvery chat starts as a one-minute round. If you both tap Stay, the timer disappears and you keep talking.
Clear rules, real reportsNo nudity, no harassment, no begging for gifts. Report or block anyone in one tap; reports are reviewed.
Make friends, not just matchesBoth tap Add friend to message, call, and meet again later.
Practice languagesPick the language you want and meet people who speak it. Conversation starters help when you’re stuck.
Private by defaultWe never record your chats. Blur your background if you don’t want to show your room.
Our rules
Bumped has zero tolerance for nudity, sexual content, harassment, hate, scams and anyone under 18. Accounts that break the rules are removed.
Frequently asked questions
When did Omegle shut down?
In November 2023, after about 14 years online.
Will Omegle come back?
There’s no sign of that. The original site now shows only the founder’s farewell message. Be careful with sites that use the Omegle name: they are not the original Omegle.
What can I use instead?
Bumped offers free random video chat with verified adults and 60-second rounds, right in your browser.
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