Jim Liebelt Christian Blog and Commentary

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Website Alert: Chatroulette

A new website, chatroulette.com, is gaining attention and popularity as media outlets have begun to cover the story about it. The site allows anyone with an internet connection and a web camera to video conference with total strangers. A participant can stay with the other participant that shows up on the screen -- or they can hang up and move on to another person (or vice versa.)

The buzz is that there is a lot of inappropriate sexual behavior on the site, and that parents should keep their kids away from it.

It's important to note that there are no restrictions on the site -- anyone can access it regardless of age -- and participants are anonymous (if they don't share any personal information.)

ABC News had a 3-minute video report on Good Morning America this past Saturday (2/13). It's worth viewing.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/talk-strangers-chat-roulette-9827740

The New York Times has reported that the founder of the site has been identified as Andrey Ternovski, a 17-year-old high school student from Moscow.
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/13/chatroulettes-founder-17-introduces-himself/