Random chat etiquette: 9 rules for chatting with strangers

The golden rule

Treat the stranger on your screen the way you would want to be treated. It sounds obvious, but it is the root of every rule below. The person on the other side is a real human with real feelings, not a character in your feed.

The 9 rules

• 1. Start with a greeting. A simple "hello" sets a friendly tone and confirms you are both real people.
• 2. Respect "no" instantly. If someone declines a question or a topic, drop it. No means no.
• 3. Never record or screenshot. Recording someone without consent is invasive, and on many platforms it is prohibited. Just don't.
• 4. Keep it SFW. Random chat is not the place to test boundaries. Stay appropriate.
• 5. Don't share personal details. Your address, phone number, workplace and bank details stay private. Period.
• 6. Skip, don't insult. Not feeling the vibe? Use the Next button. There is no need to be rude on the way out.
• 7. Be patient with bad connections. Not everyone has perfect bandwidth or a perfect webcam. Give people grace.
• 8. Don't ghost mid-sentence. If you must go, a quick "gotta run, nice talking!" beats vanishing.
• 9. Report genuinely bad behaviour. Reporting harassment and abuse keeps the platform safe for everyone.

Why etiquette matters more on random chat

On social media, bad behaviour follows your name around. On random chat, everyone is anonymous — which means the only thing keeping conversations civil is mutual respect. Good etiquette is the invisible glue that makes random chat enjoyable for everyone.

It also works in your favour: people who are kind, respectful and fun to talk to have much better conversations. It is the single highest-leverage habit in random chat.

What to do if someone breaks the rules

If someone crosses a line, you do not need to confront them. Press Next to leave immediately, and use the block button so they can never match with you again. If it was serious, report the person — moderators review reports and repeat offenders are removed.

Learn the theory here, then practise it: start a random video chat or keep it low-key with text chat.

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• Random video chat

Frequently asked questions

• What should I not do on random chat?
  Never record or screenshot without consent, never share personal details, and never pressure anyone. If a conversation turns uncomfortable, skip or block.
• How do I leave a random chat politely?
  A quick "great talking to you, take care" before pressing Next or Stop is always appreciated. Ghosting mid-sentence is the only rude way to leave.
• Should I report bad behaviour?
  Yes. Reporting harassment and abuse protects other users. Repeat offenders are removed from the platform.