RandomHey

Safety features and their limits

Random chat means talking to people you do not know. These are the protections that exist today, and what they cannot do.

Adults only

The service is for adults. Before your first chat you are asked whether you are 18 or older, and anyone who answers no cannot enter. That answer is your own statement, not age verification, so we rely on reports too: anyone who appears to be under 18 should be reported and is removed.

Report and block

  • Report and Block are always visible during a chat and for a short time after it ends.
  • Blocking ends the chat at once and stops you being matched with that person again.
  • A report is only confirmed after it is saved. You can choose to include the last text messages of the chat so a moderator can read them. Video is not recorded, so reports about video rely on your description.
  • Blocks and restrictions are tied to temporary anonymous identities. Someone who clears their browser data can come back with a new identity, so we also use other anti-abuse measures.

Moderation

Reports are reviewed by people. Several reports from different people can trigger a short automatic cooldown while a moderator reviews them; reports alone never cause a permanent ban. Restricted users can appeal through the contact page.

Video and audio are not automatically moderated. That is why Report and Block are always visible, and why every report is read by a person.

Your privacy in a chat

  • The other person never sees your IP address or any account identifier. In video chat they see your country as a flag (from your connection; a VPN shows the VPN’s country), unless you choose “Hide my country”.
  • Video and audio travel through our media server over encrypted connections. They are not end-to-end encrypted, and they are not recorded.
  • Never share your name, address, phone number or social media with a stranger.

How to tell if a website is safe for talking to strangers

No random chat is risk-free, but some are much safer than others. Before you use any site, check that it:

  • Is for adults only and says how it keeps minors out.
  • Shows Report and Block during every chat, and explains what happens after you report someone.
  • Publishes clear rules and says how they are enforced.
  • Tells you what it records and keeps, and for how long.
  • Hides your identity: no IP address, account name or location shown to the other person.
  • Never pressures you to pay, buy coins or move to another app.
  • Has a real contact address for safety concerns and appeals.

On RandomHey: adults only (a self-declaration, not verification), Report and Block always visible, rules in the community guidelines, video never recorded, text kept for at most five minutes after a chat, no IP address or account shown, nothing to buy, and a monitored address on the contact page. What we do not have: automated video moderation or age verification. Your own habits matter most, wherever you chat: see staying safe when you talk to strangers online.

If someone is in danger

If you believe someone is at immediate risk, contact your local emergency services.

Safety questions

Is RandomHey safe?

No random chat can guarantee safety, because you are talking to someone you do not know. What exists here: adults only, Report and Block always visible during a chat, blocks enforced by our server, reports reviewed by people, and video that is never recorded. Nothing catches everything, so keep your personal details to yourself.

Is video chat recorded?

No. Video and audio travel through our media server over encrypted connections and are not recorded. They are not end-to-end encrypted.

Can the other person see my IP address or where I live?

They never see your IP address or any account identifier. In video chat they see your country as a flag, worked out from your connection, unless you choose “Hide my country”. Anything you say or show on camera can still identify you.

What happens when I report someone?

The report is saved and confirmed, and a person reviews it. You can include the last text messages of the chat. Several reports from different people can trigger a short automatic cooldown while a moderator looks; reports alone never cause a permanent ban.

Does blocking actually work?

Blocking ends the chat at once and is enforced by our server: you are never matched with that person again, in either direction. Blocks are tied to temporary anonymous identities, so someone who clears their browser data can return with a new one, which is why other anti-abuse measures exist too.

Is there age verification?

No. Before your first chat you are asked whether you are 18 or older; “no” is refused and remembered on your device. That answer is a statement, not verification. Anyone who appears to be under 18 should be reported with the reason “May be under 18” and is removed.

Is text chat safer than video?

Text never asks for your camera or microphone, links are not clickable and files cannot be sent, which removes a common route for scams. Messages are kept for at most five minutes after a chat unless you include them in a report. The same Report and Block tools apply in both modes.

Read more