TikTokers mourn the shutdown of Omegle

Romain Degrave first discovered Omegle three years ago, when he was still in high school. Since its inception in 2009, the online service, which randomly pairs strangers for anonymous video chat sessions, had been connecting users across the globe for moments of discovery, whimsy, cross-cultural exchange and political debate.

The delight of Omegle was in its randomization: with the click of a button, at any moment, you could be connected with a complete stranger while in the comfort and safety of your own home, and — unlike with a conversation in the real world — you had the option of ending that encounter at any time, the second it got boring or uncomfortable or weird. On Omegle, you could meet a new best friend, the love of your life or a skilled debater who could effectively challenge your misconceptions and assumptions.