Chatroulette: Media Spin or Real Concern?

There's a new phenom to hit the internet block: a website that randomly connects you and your webcam to other users called Chatroulette.  I skimmed over the various requisite media reports about the danger it could pose to children and teenagers, but I wasn't convinced.  Isn't the internet itself a cadre of caveat emptor brambles we try to step through, anyway?  I remember my teen days on ICQ, IRC, and the numerous chat rooms where conversations opened and closed, graphic language flung my direction.  Danger?  Really?

So at 5AM, while my family was still asleep, I logged on to find out. 

Chatroulette is a very simple site that only offers three screens: your cam, the other person's cam and a chat box.  There are few disclaimers: you must be at least 16, no obscene, offending, pornographic material is tolerated and users who violate the rules are blocked.  There's a "report innapropriate video" link as well.  The roulette feature is just that, click F9 and the chat wheel is spun to another user.

The first chat was pedestrian, just some guy who was chatting before going to bed.

The next chat was with another person who pointed out how tired I look.  THIS USER SPOKE THE TRUTH! A SHAMAN, THIS ONE!

After I clicked next, I saw it: a hand rapidly moving up and down inside the confines of a cotton jersey boxer.  It was clearly a guy and he was clearly wanking it.  After having such initial innocent exchanges, the website thought I needed to be shocked awake and it worked!  It's not that I've never seen the show this guy was offering, but at 5AM, I was NOT PREPARED FOR WANG.

I didn't even think to click "report video," and in retrospect, I couldn't find the link.  I just screeched "AHHH!" and clicked out of there. I then tried to connect again and once more was treated to the MAN SHOW.  By then, my three-year-old was up and moving so I logged out of Chatroulette, the wang wheel stopped while I made breakfast.

The site was reportedly created by a 17-year-old, not a board of family and internet experts.  There wasn't much I could do other than leave or log on on my own accord.  I'm not a teenager like many of the users there.  My own son probably won't be a user either since can't type anything other than his name and "Caillou" on the keyboard. 

I don't feel like it's enough to say that there's a risk here when there's a risk everywhere, online and offline, but I'm forced to ask: is Chatroulette's "danger" just another media spin or is the concern genuine?  And since our household hasn't reached this bridge yet, how do you start a conversation about internet safety? What do you even say?

Mona is disinfecting her eyes and blogging at kirida dot com.