You can do all kinds of things online these days. People use the internet for work, entertainment, and even doing their weekly grocery shopping. But what about making friends? Thanks to random video chat sites like Fruzo, it’s easy to expand your social network without even leaving the house.
There’s no denying the popularity of random video chat. They offer a little something for everyone, no matter what you’re looking for. Part of their broad appeal is that literally anyone can use video chats. You don’t need any special skills or knowledge; all you need is a webcam and a decent WiFi connection.
That may sound reassuring, but how does video chatting actually work? Is it possible to actually be good at it? You can definitely hone your video chatting skills over time; once you’ve gotten acquainted with your chosen random chat platform, it’ll just be a matter of time before you feel right at home, no matter what kinds of chat partners you end up talking with.
Random video chat sites come in a variety of formats; feel free to try out a few so you can decide on what you like best.
The most basic (and popular) form of video chat site is so easy to join, you don’t even have to register. Typically you just have to select your gender, specify whether you want to text or video chat, and then get matched with a chat partner right away. It’s as easy as falling off a log, and way more fun. Every major video chat site will have thousands of users online at any given time, so you can do all the chatting you want and never have to wait.
On the other end of the spectrum, you have the video chat sites that also function as social networks. You’re still randomly matched with chat partners, but you have the option to save the profiles of everyone you enjoy chatting with. Of course, you’d have to create an account for this kind of video chat site, since you can’t connect to someone’s profile as an unregistered user. On the upside, plenty of these types of video chat sites will let registered members use filters to pare down their results. Your results are still random, but if you wanted to chat with a particular kind of person (only men or women, people from a certain country, etc.), you’d have that option.
On a related note, you’ll be able to maintain anonymity on the websites that don’t require registration (and even on many that do), but not all random video chat sites will preserve your identity. If this is a concern for you, make sure you confirm how much of your information will be visible to other users before you start chatting.
Social media is supposed to be all about making connections, but if you wanted to actually talk to people, random video chats are your best bet.
If social media sites have one weakness, it’s that they focus on quick, short interactions that don’t really build connections. Sure, some of them offer features like free calling or direct messaging, but those are mostly used between people who already know each other pretty well. Could you imagine randomly calling one of your Facebook friends who you’ve never met? They’d probably assume it was a butt-dial and reject the call.
On video chat sites, though, every user is there because they want to talk; you won’t get weird looks or reactions for wanting to start up a conversation. Even better, a lot of random chat users are willing to invest in the interactions, especially if they can tell that you’re ready to hold up your end of the conversation. Instead of feeling awkward or creeped out when random strangers start talking to them, video chatters will introduce themselves and ask you what’s up.
Moving on to the more practical details, here’s what you can do to make your video chats both smoother and more entertaining.
You’ll find your groove once you’ve gotten a few video chats under your belt, but if you’re just starting out, these tips could come in handy.
Have some conversation topics prepared beforehand.
It’s easy to feel like you can jump into a video chat and hit it off right away, but the reality is that sometimes it’s hard to get the chat going. And when Plan A falls through, it never hurts to have a Plan B ready to go.
You’ll have the best luck if you stick to things that are easily recognizable, and that lots of people enjoy. You could strike up a conversation about your favorite classic movies, or exchange stories about the first time you cooked a recipe all by yourself. If the person you’ve matched with isn’t interested, just move on until you find someone that is.
Follow your gut, and don’t do anything that makes you uncomfortable.
Most of the people you’ll chat with will have good intentions, but every once in a while you’ll come across a bad apple. If it seems like someone’s a bit too curious about your personal details, or they’re trying to get you to participate in something that you don’t enjoy, you don’t have any obligation to stick around.
“Following your gut” can also mean sticking around for someone who doesn’t immediately grab your attention. Even if you’re there for entertainment as much as to make friends, sometimes it pays to give someone a chance to open up before you can really start bonding.
What do you think you’ll get up to during your first few video chats?
The thing about video chatting is that you never know what could happen. You could meet a guy who’s traveled around the world and wants to share his stories with anyone who cares to listen, or you could meet someone who’s just as much of a Star Wars geek as you are. Who could you meet in your next video chat? You’ll never know until you try it!