Random video chat is one of the few genuinely spontaneous things left online. You press a button and you are talking to a person you would never otherwise have met. That is the appeal — and it is also why a little care goes a long way.
Never share identifying details
The single most important rule. No full name, no school or workplace, no street, no phone number, and nothing financial. A stranger who is pleasant for ten minutes is still a stranger.
- Keep your surroundings generic — a visible house number or uniform gives more away than people expect.
- Be wary of anyone steering the conversation towards where you live.
- Never send money, gift cards, or crypto. Nobody legitimate asks.
Recognise the common scams
Most bad actors are running one of a small number of scripts.
- The flattery pivot. Warm and complimentary, then a request — money, images, or moving to another app.
- The recording threat. Someone claims to have footage and demands payment. Block, report, and do not reply.
- The link. Any unexpected link, however casually dropped, is worth ignoring.
If a conversation starts to feel like a transaction, it is one. Skip.
Use the tools
Every chat has a report button and a block button, and both are anonymous.
Blocking is permanent and works in both directions — you will never be matched with that person again. Reporting is what our moderation is built on: users reported by several different people are removed automatically.
Know when to leave
You never owe a stranger your time. Skipping is not rude; it is the entire design of the format. If something feels off, it probably is — press skip and get on with your evening.