Should You Take a Gamble on Chatroulette?

One of the more humorous (and tame) interactions from Chatroulette.

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With the phenomenal growth of social media over the last half-decade, one might think that we’ve finally learned to tame the web. Between Facebook, Twitter, and the new kid on the block Google Buzz, it is easier than ever to share information with friends and family in an organized fashion. Even the negative aspects of social media interaction (slander, identity theft, etc.) can at least be prepared for through effective reputation monitoring and personal branding.

Of course, when you’re dealing with something as incredibly dynamic as the Internet, there is no such thing as control. Using a popular analogy, if the web is the Wild Wild West, then all we’ve down is put on a tin star and tidy up town. By and large, the real dangerous outlaws are still out there. Case in point, the Internet’s latest fad: Chatroulette.com.

In simplest terms, Chatroulette is a giant, international, and totally anonymous peer-to-peer web chat network. Founded by a 17-year old Russian student, Chatroulette functions by turning on your computer’s web cam and randomly syncing you up with users from all around the world. If that doesn’t sound like much, consider this. In the past two weeks, Chatroulette has been featured in the New York Times, New York Magazine, Mashable, Time Magazine, and countless other respected publications.

So, what is it that has earned the website so much attention? Prurience, plain and simple.

You see, while idealists might think that Chatroulette is the perfect place to bridge cultural gaps and foster dynamic new ideas through the transformative power of anonymous communication, the reality is that the website is filled with lewdness, vulgarity, and all kinds of disturbing imagery. That’s not to say that users can’t find valuable conversation (Sam Anderson talked about some of his successful Chatroulette experiences in the New York Magazine article), but you have to wade through a sea of disinterested teenagers, male genitalia, and bizarre shock images to get to it.

In retrospect, Chatroulette is the logical extension of our long-held desire for anonymous interaction online. What began in the early 1990′s with chat rooms on AOL and Prodigy has evolved over time to become Chatroulette. The same principles apply: two strangers, one anonymous link. The difference now is the element of chance. There is no control over what you might see, and that seems to be what’s driving fascination with the site. That’s also the reason why parents should keep their kids far, far away from it.

As more and more people begin trying out Chatroulette, I wouldn’t be surprised if the site were forced to implement some heavier restrictions. As it stands, there is really no way to protect users, especially children, from seeing things that they should definitely not be seeing without the proper context. Like I said though, that’s why the site has garnered so much press, and also why it will probably fade once more restrictions are put in place.

What do you think? Would you try Chatroulette? (Be advised, we don’t recommend it.)