Safety & privacy
Someone Seems Under 18 on Video Chat? What to Do
If someone on a video chat seems under 18, end the conversation and report them with the site's age option. Sites label it differently, from a "report underage user" button to a general report form; on Omlet, tap the flag on their video, choose Looks under 18 and press Report and skip. You don't need proof, and you shouldn't stay to ask questions.
Omlet is for adults only. This page is for adult users who run into someone who may not be, and it covers what to do in the moment, what not to do even with good intentions, and when to go beyond the chat to NCMEC or the police.
What to do in the first 10 seconds
- Stop the conversation. Don't finish your sentence or say a long goodbye.
- Report them. On Omlet: the flag on their video, then Looks under 18, then Report and skip. Reporting also ends the chat and moves you on, so it's one action, not two.
- Add a short note if you can, like "said they're 15" or "looks about 13, mentioned their parents' rules."
- Don't swap usernames, numbers or social handles, and don't agree to talk anywhere else.
- Don't screenshot or record them. There's no need, and saving images of a minor is never a good idea.
Reporting isn't an accusation. You're asking moderators to take a look. If you're unsure, report anyway and let the review decide.
Signs someone may be under 18
You won't always know for sure, and you don't have to. Any of these is reason enough to leave and report:
- They state an age under 18, even if they quickly say they were joking.
- They look clearly young, whatever age they claim.
- They mention homework, class periods, a curfew or needing a parent's permission.
- They talk about being in a grade level or year that only applies to minors where they live.
- Their surroundings or what you overhear suggest it, like a parent telling them it's past their bedtime.
Don't try to settle it by questioning them, asking for ID or asking for a photo. That's not your job, and it keeps a minor in a conversation they shouldn't be in.
What Omlet does when someone says they're under 18
Omlet is 18+ and asks everyone to confirm they're an adult before chatting. It's self-declared, with no ID checks, which is why reports from adult users matter so much. Here's why sites rely on asking if you're 18 and what that confirmation does.
- Chats where someone says they're under 18 are ended. Messages are checked on the device, and one that may say someone is under 18 gets a second review by an AI service. If it holds up, the chat is ended with the message "This chat has ended. Omlet is for people 18 and older."
- Looks under 18 is a report reason of its own, so moderators know exactly what to look for.
- Someone you report is never matched with you again on that device.
- Sexual content involving anyone under 18 means a permanent ban.
For the whole system, from on-device checks to human review, see how video chat moderation works.
What not to do, even with good intentions
Adults sometimes stay in the chat to help, warn or check on a young person. It's kind, but it's the wrong move here.
- Don't keep chatting to be polite. Ending quickly is the respectful thing to do.
- Don't lecture or interrogate them. A one-line exit is plenty: "This site is for adults only, so I'm going to end the chat." Or just report.
- Don't offer to stay in touch "in case they need help." Any adult offering a private line to a minor they met online is a pattern that safeguarding exists to stop.
- Don't share their image or chat anywhere, including to warn others online. Report through the proper channels instead.
If you saw exploitation or abuse
Most of the time, a young person on an adult site is just someone who shouldn't be there, and a report covers it. Some situations are more serious and should go beyond the platform.
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Someone says they're under 18 or looks it | End the chat and report with Looks under 18 |
| An adult talks sexually about children or asks for images of minors | Report on the platform, then report to the NCMEC CyberTipline |
| You're shown sexual images or video involving a minor | Leave immediately, don't save anything, report to the CyberTipline or police |
| A minor seems to be in danger or being harmed | Contact local emergency services |
| Someone tells you sexual images of them from under 18 are being shared | Point them to Take It Down |
The CyberTipline is run by the US National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and accepts reports about child sexual exploitation online. Outside the US, contact your local police. When you report, describe what you saw, the site, the date and time, and any username. Never download, screenshot or forward sexual images of anyone under 18, even to prove what happened.
Our guide to getting intimate images removed online explains how Take It Down and other removal tools work.
Looking after yourself afterward
Running into something like this can be upsetting, especially if you saw something you can't unsee. That's a normal reaction.
- Take a break from chatting. Press Stop, or Esc, and step away.
- Talk it through with someone you trust.
- If an adult in the chat targeted you with threats or harassment after you reported, keep records and follow the steps in what to do about online harassment.
- If you're in the US and feeling overwhelmed or in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Elsewhere, contact local emergency services or a mental health professional.
You did the right thing by reporting. The full walkthrough of reasons, notes and what moderators see is in how to report someone on video chat.