Video chat
Need Someone to Talk to Online?
If you're in crisis or thinking about suicide, please reach out now. In the US, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988lifeline.org). It's free and available 24/7. Anywhere else, contact your local emergency services. You deserve support, and you don't have to get through this alone.
If you're safe but want someone to talk to online, the best choice depends on what you need right now: someone who knows you, someone trained to help, or just a bit of friendly company. This page helps you pick, and it's honest about where a random video chat like Omlet fits and where it doesn't.
Which kind of conversation do you need?
There's no wrong reason to want to talk. Matching the need to the right person just makes it more likely you'll feel better afterward.
| If you... | Reach out to | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Are in crisis, in danger, or thinking about suicide | 988 by call or text (US), or local emergency services | Trained people, available right now |
| Have felt low, anxious or overwhelmed for weeks | A doctor, therapist or counselor | They can help with what's underneath, over time |
| Want to be heard by someone who cares about you | A friend or family member | They know your story and can check in later |
| Just want light company, like small talk with someone new | A casual chat with a friendly stranger | Low stakes, no commitment, easy to end |
You can mix these. Plenty of people talk to a professional each week, call a friend on Sunday, and enjoy the odd chat with a stranger in between.
Reaching out to someone you know
Sending the first message is often harder than the conversation itself. It doesn't need to be a big announcement. Any of these will do:
- "Hey, are you free for a quick call tonight? I could use a chat."
- "No need to fix anything. I'd just like to talk for a bit."
- "I've been feeling a bit off lately. Can I tell you about it?"
- "It's been ages. Want to catch up this week?"
If nobody comes to mind right now, you're not the only one, and it can change. Our guide on how to deal with loneliness has practical first steps.
When a professional is the better choice
Friends and strangers can be good company, but they aren't trained to help with heavier things. Consider talking to a professional if you notice any of these:
- Low mood, worry or numbness that has lasted more than a couple of weeks.
- Trouble sleeping, eating, working or doing things you used to enjoy.
- Pulling away from people, or relying on alcohol or other substances to cope.
- Thoughts of harming yourself. If that's happening now, call or text 988 in the US or contact local emergency services.
Good places to start are your doctor, a licensed therapist or counselor, or an employee assistance program if your job offers one.
What Omlet is, and what it isn't
Omlet is a random video chat for adults: casual conversation with strangers, one at a time. It is not a support service, a helpline, counseling or therapy. The people you meet are ordinary members of the public. They aren't trained to listen, and most are just looking for a light chat.
Strangers can also be unkind. Some will skip you after a second, some may be rude, and that can sting more on a day when you're already low. Omlet has a Next button to move on instantly and a Report button (the flag on your partner's video) for anyone who harasses you, but it can't promise every conversation will be pleasant.
If you're feeling fragile, a chat with random strangers probably isn't the right moment. Reach out to someone you trust or to one of the services above first.
If you just want light company tonight
Sometimes you simply want to hear a friendly voice and talk about nothing in particular. That's what casual chat with a stranger does best. A few habits keep it easy:
- Set a time limit, like twenty minutes, so it stays a nice break rather than a long scroll.
- Keep topics light: their day, where they live, food, music, a show you're both watching.
- Use text if video feels like too much. You can turn your camera off and type instead.
- Keep personal details private. No full name, address, workplace or social handles.
- Leave whenever you like. Press Stop (Esc on a keyboard) and you're done. You owe nobody a conversation.
If you're stuck for what to say, our conversation starters for video chat give you easy openers, and our page on how to talk to strangers explains what to expect.
Looking after yourself if a chat goes badly
- End it. Press Next or Stop the moment it feels bad. You don't need a reason.
- Report it if they harassed you, used hate speech, threatened you or broke the rules another way.
- Step away from the screen. Get a glass of water, stretch, open a window, take a short walk.
- Talk to someone you trust about what happened, if it's on your mind.
- Remember it's about them. Cruelty from a stranger says nothing true about you.
Our guide on what to do after an upsetting online chat goes further.
If a conversation leaves you thinking about hurting yourself, stop chatting and call or text 988 in the US, or contact your local emergency services.
When loneliness keeps coming back
If you find yourself searching for someone to talk to most nights, that's a signal worth taking seriously, not a flaw. Regular contact tends to help more than occasional long chats: a weekly call with one person, a class or club you return to, a walk with a neighbor.
Working from home can make this worse without you noticing. Our guide to remote work loneliness has ideas for building connection into your week.