Chat Roulette gets web users' attention

KINGSTON, R.I. (FOX Providence) - Chat Roulette has made its way onto the list of the many social networking sites, including MySpace, Facebook and Twitter.

Rhode Show Junior Reporter and URI student J.T. Stevens created this report.

It puts users face-to-face with complete strangers.

Created last December by a Russian teenager, it has now grabbed the attention of many internet users, including some at the University of Rhode Island .

"I was home one weekend and I was visiting a friend and his younger brother actually, whose a senior in high school told me about it. I had no idea what it was and then we went on it," said student Stacey Welch.

"I use Chat Roulette for fun, ya know pass the time with some friends, have some laughs, talk to people around the world, its just fun to do in your spare time," said another student Anna Slocum.

At any one time there can be up to 85,000 users ready to strike up a conversation. Chat Roulette stands apart from all of the other social networking sites because of the live streaming video.

"I have actually heard residents telling me they know that people are doing it and I think its kind of interesting, hopefully harmless, but um yea I don't know, I heard kids are using it and obviously they're college kids and they love the scandalous new technology. So, I think its become pretty popular especially among our age group," Molly McCloskey, a URI Resident Assistant.

Chat Roulette can be seen as more than just a chat room with conversation. Some of the explicit and graphic images raise a red flag, especially to those against this new form of social networking.

"It made me scared for the future of how to protect my children when I eventually have them, because if this is whats going now. Imagine whats going to be going on in five or ten years. It's just really scary that your kids can just log on to a website and talk to anybody who can show them anything," said another student Linzi Rae Matta.

"I think its creepy that people want to talk to strangers through video, i don't know, I don't see the appeal in talking to strangers online," added student Erin Morrissey.

And with all of the social networking sites now available, here are some tips to help protect yourself and your children:

Don't disclose too much private information.
Be aware about what you share on the many different social networking sites.