Random video chat with strangers is entertaining, but it carries real risks. This guide gives you the good habits and the questions to ask yourself before hitting "Start" on any platform.
Risk #1: your public IP exposed
WebRTC, the technology behind video chats, works by exchanging IP addresses between the two browsers. On a direct connection (P2P), your real public IP becomes visible to the person you are talking to, and a malicious user can pull it out of Chrome's developer tools.
Protection: use a platform whose server relays all video traffic. On PLOXX that relay is forced: your video passes through our servers encrypted and your IP address is never exposed to the other person. You can add a VPN as an extra layer.
Risk #2: screenshots of you
The person you are talking to can take screenshots or record the session without you knowing. That is inherent to any video communication. No platform can prevent it technically.
Protection: do not show anything you would not want to see in public. No clear face if you want to stay anonymous, and no identifying objects in the background (papers, badges, street signs through the window).
Risk #3: illegal or shocking content
Random chats expose you to vulgar or sexual behaviour, or worse. If you come across something illegal (nudity, minors at risk), report it immediately. On PLOXX the 🚩 button opens a dialog with structured reasons and automatic priority on critical reports.
Risk #4: minors on the platform
No self-declared age check is reliable. Minors can get through even on sites that require adulthood. If you are interacting with someone who seems underage in an inappropriate context, disconnect and report. Any adult knows what to do.
Risk #5: data collected by the platform
Every platform collects at least your IP. Many go further: browser fingerprint, geolocation, third-party ad trackers. Check the privacy policy before using a service.
PLOXX keeps collection minimal: an anonymous ploxx_uid cookie for your wallet, your IP logged only in the event of a report, and no third-party trackers.
Safety checklist before each session
- Neutral background, no identifying elements
- VPN on if you want to hide your location
- You know where the report button is and will not hesitate to use it
- No personal information shared (name, city, school, social media)
- If you are under 15: do not connect. PLOXX is 15 and up, and minors there are matched separately from adults - many platforms on this list do neither
- Connect from a device without sensitive data (not the work computer with your mail open in a tab)
What about PLOXX moderation?
PLOXX takes a transparent approach: explicit rules accepted before first use, one-click reporting, structured reasons with automatic priority, and a human team behind it (not only AI). A banned user sees the reason for the ban and can appeal by email.
Automatic video moderation exists, and it runs on your device rather than on our servers: the stranger's stream is analysed in your own browser, no image is sent to us, only signals. That is deliberate - server-side video moderation would mean looking at the streams, which is precisely what end-to-end encryption prevents. It comes on top of human moderation on reports, not instead of it.