Omegle announces shutdown after fourteen years of operation

Omegle, one of the last relics of the "wild west" era of the internet, has shut down permanently. The news comes via a lengthy blog post that populates the website's home page. Leif K-Brooks, the owner of Omegle, hasn't explicitly stated why he shut the website down, merely attributing it to "a constant barrage of attacks on communication services" and ballooning operating costs.

Over the years, Omegle has retained most of its anonymity. The addition of video greatly enhanced the original text-only chat service, although many would argue it made Omegle worse due to the endless barrage of unsolicited explicit material. This may have been one of the main reasons for Omegle's shutdown. That said, Leif insists that Omegle worked with law enforcement agencies to take down offenders who used the platform for nefarious purposes.

Omegle's shutdown is a grim reminder that the internet many grew up with no longer exists. Online anonymity is becoming increasingly rare and will soon become a thing of the past. Omegle has given us several priceless moments and will forever be remembered as a website that helped shape the internet. As Leif puts it, we could end up with "a souped-up version of TV".