Omegle matches you with random strangers for one-on-one text and video chats. At any given time, you will find thousands of people online and ready to chat. Unlike ChatRoulette, Omegle lets you to find chat partners based on common interest. Omegle even has a feature that allows you to spy on others discussing a question you ask them.

Random Chatting On Omegle

The Omegle start page is very simple. You can dive straight into a text or video chat with a random stranger by clicking the respective button. Alternatively, you can first enter keywords for your interests, to be matched up with someone who has something in common with you.

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Once you click one of the buttons, you will almost instantly find yourself with a chat partner. If Omegle can't find someone with a common interest within a few seconds, it will match you up with a random stranger.

Start chatting by entering text at the bottom of the page. To the left and right of the text box are buttons that allow you to disconnect from the chat, enter a new chat, or post your text. Of course you can also use the standard keyboard shortcuts, i.e. [Esc] and [Enter].

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Changing Your Interests

If you find that your interests don't attract the kind of chat partners you are hoping for, change them. After disconnecting from a chat, click the Settings link next to Find strangers with common interests. Alternatively, you can reload the page to return to the front page and edit your interests there. You can also uncheck common interests to be matched up completely randomly.

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Spy Mode Or Discussing Questions

To enter spy mode, return to the Omegle front page and click on the respective button. When the box is in the asking questions mode, you can enter a question for two strangers to discuss. Click the Ask strangers button to recruit two random people who will discuss your question.

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To become one of the strangers discussing a question, click the discussing questions link at the bottom of the spy mode box, then click the Check it out! button to be matched up with a question and someone to discuss it with.

The result may look something like the screenshot below, although I'm sure you can come up with a more interesting question.

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Saving & Sharing Chat Logs

Finally, if you do come across a funny conversation or just one you want to keep, you can get a link to your chat log or post it to Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, or reddit. The respective options come up whenever you or your chat partner disconnect from the chat.

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Words of Warning

Anonymous chats are full of people interested in only one thing and they may bring out the weirdo in you. Omegle rightfully warns visitors that "human behavior is fundamentally uncontrollable" and that "the people you encounter on Omegle may not behave appropriately." You can only control how you react and often the best thing to do is to disconnect the chat. Be prepared that most users are male teenagers.

As a GeekyFun comic nicely depicts, 99% of Omegle conversations will look like this:

For some advice on how you can prepare, check out my article on a similar topic: How To Protect Yourself When Doing the Chatroulette Shuffle

Also have a look at these articles for alternative chat sites:

Do you enjoy chatting with strangers or do you prefer to hang out with real friends?