I’ve recently heard about the new potential “Facebook” of the internet; a website called Chatroulette launched in December 2009 by a 17 year old high-school student in Russia.
For those of you who haven’t heard about it, the idea is fairly straightforward. You enter ‘Stranger Chat’ which lets you chat via webcams with a complete stranger, randomly and one-on-one. Once you get bored or uninterested you can move onto the next person – otherwise known as being ‘nexted’. The website has become hugely popular over recent weeks and has gained much coverage in newspapers, TV shows and online. In February it received 30 million unique visitors and is even rumoured to have been visited by celebrities Katy Perry and Paris Hilton.
So far, the site has received a mix of negative and positive comments. The most frequent comment about the site is that although obscene content is banned, it is often disturbing and downright unsettling (middle-aged men using webcams, what’s creepy about that?). However, recent weeks have also produced some truly incredible moments of internet random-ness, including a guy improvising piano songs for random strangers and Catroulette.
But rather than describe how it works in too much detail, the following video pretty much sums it up nicely!
http://www.vimeo.com/9669721The random aspect of the site leaves an obvious problem for advertisers as there is less opportunity for targeting specific groups of people and interacting with them on the level that Facebook provides.
I realise that Chatroulette is becoming increasingly popular, but I personally don’t think that the novelty of this site will last for very long. Chatroulette differs from MySpace and Facebook as the focus is on meeting and communicating with complete strangers, and “any deeper connections must take place beyond the context of the website”.
Conversely, I think Facebook and MySpace are narcissistic platforms for people to share and create their profiles which contribute to maintaining existing relationships in their lives. Chatroulette may require less commitment, but is this a blessing or a curse? People may be more willing to initially engage in ‘Stranger Chat’ but once they’re webcamming away, there doesn’t seem to be as much to hold them there. Perhaps Chatroulette will even boost users on Facebook as people strive to cement any potential relationships with their new-found friends.
But maybe I am wrong. Maybe it is the anonymity and simplicity that is so appealing. People can be whoever they want and are free to express themselves without apology or explanation. But will people still be tempted to spin the wheel in a year? What do you think?
Joey Mock is a Media Assistant at BCM Sydney
Joey
Great blog on this new interactive platform. I think the future of Chatroulette is in its functionality. At the moment it’s glitchy to say the least. If the founder gets the capital he’s looking for from the big IT investors (he’s talking to them right now) they’ll sort all this out. Let’s not forget that the online mega-brands like Facebook, Google, E Bay etc all function extremely well. A great product and a great brand is a pretty unbeatable combo. Being first is also a massive advantage. Chatroulette is an interesting concept. I reckon it might just work.
I think chatroulette is going to be “nexted” pretty soon. The site has very limited staying power; as most of its initial hits seem to be based more on curiosity, rather than serial users. The dangers of this site will also increase as users checking out the site to satisfy their curiosity wane and the freaks using it to satisfy fetishes etc. remain.
I don’t think that chatroulette has enough differentiation from a regular chatroom where users still get more anonymity, without the chance of being rejected by other participants.
Paul is right in saying this concept needs a lot more financial backing but its opportunities to create revenue are significantly less than Myspace or Facebook that can target users based on their public information. Nor do users have the safety and connectivity as provided by Twitter. There doesn’t seem to be a conclusion to a social interaction within chatroulette. You chat, you end the session… how many true bonds would be created? Myspace and Facebook provide opportunity to delve into a person social life, stalk and study them. Twitter provides insight to a persons life, television writers, actors, socialites, random Joe down the street, and your friend Claire. Chatroulette gives you an image, a POSSIBLE conversation and a big chance you’ll stumble onto a sexual deviant or sock puppet.
I think its doomed.
In my view the product at the moment is in its infancy. There are many flaws with it. But it could evolve. The old adage ‘birds of a feather…’ is appropriate. So if the site ultimately allows people to connect with people who are of the same ilk, even if they’re stranger across the world then maybe its sustainable. But if you’re only on to check out the freaks then it’s destined to be a 5 minute wonder.
I think it only has a future for eggs.
Although Kev, if you are just on Chatroulette for the freaks, why not spend your time playing a quick ol’ game of http://www.chatroulettebingo.com – guaranteed laughs-a-minute for the whole family. Well…, maybe not the whole family.
Cheerleaders (in their downtime) could well become the ultimate salespeople.
Or even better, my wife could use it before going out, so I wouldn’t have to tell her which dress to wear.
Go Joey. Fine blog with great insights.
The fact is there are 2 key elements driving this new social medium
1. The fact you are anonymous
2. The lucky dip aspect, who or what you may see.
I dont believe this is the next facebook but I believe it will die a very slow death, something will replace it. I would envisage that this type of solution will be standard as part of another program and therefore kill this.
I find it very interesting to see the perverts of the world embracing this sort of social networking, youtube has become famous for some of the fruitloops on it e.g. I was recently sent a link of a youtube video where this guy lets his dog suckle his chest. Now like a car crash scene you know you should look but have too, a complete freak who receives 5 minutes of fame. I am genuinely scared and scarred knowing people like that exist but this is the world we live in
Next:
Great post Joey! Whether Chatroulette goes on to bigger and better things or becomes yesterday’s news is not as important as the fact that social media continues to lure people from time spent with traditional media channels. Marketers and agencies with head in sand beware!
Agree that it’s got potential, but needs to be filtered to work beyond a novelty.
If we look at it as a continuum, atm faceworld is for the most part merely an online aggregation of existing rl friends (presumably with common interests etc), while chat roulette on the other end is completely random and populated by a lot of, um, male members… but what if there was a rating system so that you could filter for people who tend to like having their pants on and actually talking; or better still people who are interested in talking about soccer, philosophy, flash development, or whatever else it is that you’re into?
Then, maybe, you could have the best of both worlds – common interests and random connections.
I like your idea Jesse… am envisioning something like ‘BandRoulette’ – chatroulette crossed with the a jazz muso’s jam night. One window for whoever’s taking solos, the other for a random backing band. And then if you get sick of the drummer dropping beats, or the bass player slowing down, or are getting bored with the song you simply move onto to next one.
Of course, it also breaks down into musical sub-genres: BeBopRoulette, FunkRoulette, EmoScreamoRoulette…
Thanks for all the comments!
I think the general consensus is that it definitely needs more development.
I also think Jesse is on the right track. It definitely needs a filter/rating system to separate the pant-less and the pant-wearer!
Chatroulette is most popular with those who are drunk and those who like showing their penises.
Scott – sorry, belated reply but yeah, band roulette would be rad. check this less interactive though really very cool example of a similar concept: http://www.inbflat.net/