It was an iconic web portal that, for more than a decade, was the source of an inexhaustible source of memes, humor and bizarre anecdotes on social networks, and now it seems to be back.
Omegle was an online chat and video conferencing room that allowed you to contact strangers from anywhere in the world and randomly, with few barriers to use and with infinite possibilities.
However, the anonymity provided by the page gave rise to many users giving the platform very controversial uses, and it became a very risky place, especially for minors, where you could come across something that was not you would like to see, facing disrespect or sexual scenes. All the controversies that Omegle aroused, together with the technical difficulties of maintaining the service, caused its creator, Leif K-Brooks, to close the website in 2023.
But now, Omegle has been reborn, or at least, that is what some posts on The reality seems to be somewhat more complex.
Uhmegle
@uhmegle
Talk to strangers worldwide on https://t.co/zwy3530Uq6, the new chatting app currently sweeping the internet!
We’ve upgraded our servers today and improved the interface—enjoy smoother, more fun conversations! https://t.co/PQpmKgwBCl
October 13, 2024 • 02:40
144
7
«Omegle is back! Try Uhmegle, a new alternative to Omegle for users over 18 years old. “We’ve addressed Omegle’s challenges with advanced AI moderation and a reporting feature, ensuring safe chats while you make friends around the world,” says a post from the @uhmegle Twitter account, published on October 10. The post has received thousands of likes and reposts, and is beginning to popularize this new platform, which arouses the nostalgia and memories of many users.
The truth is that, to begin with, we do not find any indication on the web that the creator of Uhmegle is the same as the developer of the original Omegle. Therefore, although the post seems to imply that this is a new project born from the original Omegle, everything indicates that it is a completely independent platform that has been created by another person not necessarily related to Omegle.
A suspicious system
This new website points out that, through the use of artificial intelligence, they are capable of carrying out effective moderation that corrects the problems that ended up causing the original Omegle to crash. That is, the improper behaviors of many users. However, the algorithm of this new platform is presenting many errors.
Dozens of people on X and other networks claim to be automatically banned from Uhmegle, without having broken any rules, and without even having had time to try the service. But there is more, and this is somewhat suspicious: the website allows users to benefit from a quick unlock in exchange for paying $2.99. Given the number of people who claim to be banned for no reason, and the fact that you have to pay to be able to return to the service, it does smell a bit like a scam.
In addition, the website prohibits the use of VPNs, a system that provides privacy to its users, and we can also think about the risks of facial scans that artificial intelligence applied on the web may be carrying out. For all these reasons, we recommend great caution when faced with this new platform that could be exploiting the memory and image of Omegle for its own purposes.
If one enters the Discord chat from Uhmegle, you can see that other users can use the platform normally, but the legitimacy and durability of this new project remains to be seen. Omegle was a breeding ground for all kinds of online predators, and this new platform can fall into the same hole if the AI it claims to use fails to do its job effectively. And this, assuming that it is not a data capture scam or any other type.
