So I was writing an article about 2010 trends and one was very cool in its idea – a social networking site where you chat with a stranger. Sounds typical, doesn’t it? I wondered what was different about it. Well, instead of your profile chatting with another profile, you are a stranger and so are they. The conversation is literally stranger to stranger.

I log on at Omegle and it just tells you to click on “Start a chat.” You don’t fill out anything – you just get connected to a stranger somewhere in the world. Unfortunately, the first 8-10 strangers I was connected to were lookin’ for LUV. And I’m not.

Fortunately, when the guy starts the conversation asking you to set up your web cam so he can garner a peeksie, you just click Disconnect, which I did. I continued trying just to see if there were any non-amorous strangers on there and finally I found someone who said, “Hey Dude!”

I said I was a dudette, and she LOL’d and we started chatting about how icky so many others were on there (she had a funny response that she always says, “I’m a 10-yr old boy whose dad works for the FBI.”) – I had to laugh at that one. She said they disconnect her all the time.

Anyway, she didn’t have to share her name etc. But later on she said she was on holiday from school and was a 15 yr old girl. I told her I was a 39 year old mom. We chatted about Sinterklaas (she’s from Holland) and traditions from both of our countries. It was VERY nice. Here’s a snippet of our convo:

How can this benefit you as a marketer? No clue. I just think it’s a neat concept for those who are lonely or bored or procrastinating or just curious cats! Just be ready to hit the disconnect button when the pervs pop up.

Tiff

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