What ChatDuo does to be a safer website to talk to strangers

ChatDuo is a free one-on-one text chat and video chat with strangers; these protections exist today in the applet, not on a roadmap.

• 18+ gate and notice

  Before your first chat you confirm that you are an adult and agree to the Terms, Privacy Policy and Community Guidelines. The start panel repeats the rule: “18+ only. Keep it clean!”

• Report in every chat

  The Report button is on screen for the whole conversation. Pick a reason, press “Report and end chat”, and the chat closes at once.

• Block, so you are not matched again

  Block ends the chat and keeps you from being matched with that person again on this browser, in text and video alike.

• Automatic bans after repeated reports

  When several different people report the same person within 24 hours, that person is banned automatically. The notice shows the end time, the reason and a reference code.

• Bans tied to the network and browser, not a name

  There are no accounts to ban, so a ban is tied to a hashed IP address and a random browser cookie. You do not hand over any personal details to get this protection.

• Review by the ChatDuo team

  Reported chats and reports sent through the contact form can be reviewed by the ChatDuo team, who can also ban someone manually. Reports about suspected minors come first.

Buttons, shortcuts and the steps after a report are on the how ChatDuo works page.

What ChatDuo does not do

Know the limits before you press Start.

• No gender or location filters. Matching is random, with an optional interests step; you cannot choose who you meet by gender or country.
• No effects that hide your face. On video, your camera shows you as you are. If you prefer not to be seen, use Camera off or pick the text chat.
• No app. ChatDuo runs in the browser on phones and desktops; there is nothing to install.
• No automated video moderation today. Chats are not watched or scanned by software. Protection comes from the age gate, in-chat reports, automatic bans and review of reported chats.
• The stranger can see and hear you. Video and audio travel directly between the two browsers and ChatDuo does not record them, but the other person can record their own screen. The Privacy Policy has the details.

Ten video chat safety tips for talking to strangers

A few habits prevent most trouble, on any site.

1. Keep identifying details out of the chat

   Full name, workplace, school, street, phone number and social handles stay private. A first name and a time zone is plenty.

2. Assume the screen can be recorded

   Do nothing on camera you would not want saved; recording software is one click away for anyone.

3. Check what your camera shows

   Mail with your address, a work badge or a street sign through the window tells a stranger more than you intend.

4. Press Next early

   You owe nobody an explanation. The moment a chat feels off, skip.

5. Report instead of arguing

   Arguing keeps a bad actor in front of you. Report, which ends the chat and counts toward an automatic ban, then move on.

6. Never send money or codes

   Nobody you met two minutes ago needs a gift card, a crypto transfer or the code that just arrived on your phone. That is a scam.

7. Do not meet anyone from a random chat offline

   You know only what they chose to show you. Keep random chats online.

8. Protect the minors in your household

   Close the tab on shared devices and never let children appear on camera.

9. Be wary of pressure to move elsewhere

   Being pushed to another app, to share a profile or to “prove it is really you” is a warning sign, not a compliment.

10. Trust your gut and close the tab

    If a chat leaves you uneasy, stop and come back another time.

Our guide on how to talk to strangers online covers openers, what to share and when to skip.

If you see a minor or illegal content

Anyone who appears to be under 18 does not belong on ChatDuo, and sexual content involving a minor is a serious crime. If you see either:

1. Report in the chat. Press Report, choose “Appears underage” and confirm. The chat ends and the report is recorded against that person.
2. Tell us more. Use the contact form with the Safety report subject and say roughly when it happened.
3. Do not save or share images. Keeping or forwarding sexual imagery of a minor is itself illegal. Describe what you saw instead.

Reports involving suspected minors, criminal activity or credible threats to safety are prioritised and may be referred to law enforcement, as the Safety and Reporting Policy explains; how ChatDuo answers requests from the authorities is in the Law Enforcement Request Policy. If someone is in immediate danger, call your local emergency number first.

Reporting, bans and appeals

Several reports from different people within 24 hours trigger an automatic ban; the ChatDuo team can also ban someone after a review. The full reporting rules set out the details.

If you believe a ban was a mistake, send the reference code from your ban notice through the contact form with the Appeal a ban subject. Appeals are free, and paying never lifts a ban. Use Report for rule-breaking; to avoid someone without reporting them, use Block.

Frequently asked questions

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