Tampa Omegle Lawsuit Lawyer

April 12, 2022 | Attorney, Matthew Dolman

Tampa's young people, like young people everywhere, are using Omegle more and more. Unfortunately, this website has become a place for predators, leaving young users prone to emotional and sexual abuse.

If you believe that you or your child has suffered sexual abuse on this platform, you might want to speak to a Tampa Omegle lawsuit lawyer with Dolman Law Group. You don't have to face these challenges all on your own. One of our attorneys can help you navigate the legal issues while you focus on your emotional health.

What Is Omegle?

Since 2009, Omegle has offered a platform where users can chat online. At first, it only supported text messages, but it soon began to offer video connections.

One of Omegle's features is that it pairs users randomly. A user can add their particular interests and chat with someone else who shares them. Millions of people visit Omegle every month. These users are anonymous, and Omegle doesn't recommend a user tell their partner who they are.

The Omegle home page states that users should be over 18 years old or over 13 if they have parental permission and supervision. 

What Are the Problems With Omegle?

Young people like Omegle. Perhaps this is partly due to its anonymity. A young user might find it easier to talk about things they don't want to share with family or friends.

Many of us were clearly and frequently told we shouldn't talk to strangers when we were children. But if you open Omegle's home page, the tagline running across the top reads "Talk to strangers!". Many children will immediately find the prospect enticing.

Here are some of the problems that we believe that Omegle has:

No Age Verification

Omegle says that young people need permission and supervision, but there is no system to verify a user's age.

No Registration

You don't need to register to use Omegle and start chatting. Anyone with access to the internet can start an anonymous chat.

Sexual Content

There are areas on the site that Omegle states may contain sexual content. Despite Omegle's warning, some young people easily access them.

Grooming

The nature of Omegle's platform makes it an ideal place for predators to groom vulnerable children. Concerned parents have reported many cases of this. Predators can be very subtle, and a child might not realize what's going on. 

Security

While Omegle doesn't recommend you give away personal information, there is no system to monitor conversations. Someone might easily persuade your child to say too much.

Cyberbullying

The nature of the platform lends itself to cyberbullying, which can be emotionally damaging to the victims, especially if they are children.

Screen Recording

A user can screen-record a video chat. There is nothing to stop them from doing this footage.

How Can You Stop Your Child Viewing Omegle?

Most of the commonly used browsers will support content filters and safeguards. These are relatively easy to set up, and there shouldn't be much work needed to adjust your browser so your child can't access sites with adult content.

You could also install a parental control app. There are many options available. The best-reviewed include:

  • Qustodio
  • Net Nanny
  • Norton
  • Kaspersky

Things to Watch for If Your Child Uses Omegle

Children might feel ashamed to talk about the sexual abuse that they have suffered. You should watch out for changes in behavior and encourage them to be open if they have a problem. Despite what Omegle says, you can't constantly monitor your child's internet use. This is especially true if your child accesses the internet without you when they are away from home. Don't let Omegle dodge its responsibilities.

Filing an Omegle Lawsuit

Law enforcement has been holding the sexual predators on Omegle accountable for the harm they've caused minors. Even though a criminal conviction means justice for the victim, it won't give them the resources they need to cope with the trauma of abuse.

Luckily, Marsha's Law allows child abuse victims to recover damages for their physical and emotional injuries. However, there are some important things to keep in mind when going down this route:

  • You must prove that the defendant committed a child pornography or other child exploitation crime, causing the victim to suffer physical and/or emotional injuries.
  • Victims have up to 10 years after their 18th birthday to file suit or 10 years following their discovery of the injury or abuse.
  • Victims can pursue $150,000 in compensation, including pain and suffering, punitive damages, litigation costs, and other fees.

You may be able to file suit against Omegle, as well as the predator. A lawyer with our firm can explain your options.

How Dolman Law Group Can Help with Your Tampa Omegle Lawsuit

We have worked with cases like these before and are mindful of their delicate and sensitive nature. We are also aware of the laws surrounding these types of cases.

If we take your case, our duties will include:

  • Collecting evidence
  • Identifying the at-fault parties
  • Communicating with respective parties
  • Assessing all of your damages
  • Entering into settlement negotiations
  • Helping you meet corresponding deadlines
  • Litigating your case in a trial, if necessary

Our team at Dolman Law Group offers free initial consultations. This initial chat allows us to look at the facts, answer questions, and recommend how best to move forward. These conversations don't require any commitment.

Contact Dolman Law Group Today for a Free Consultation

If you believe that your child has suffered any abuse through using Omegle in Tampa, please call Dolman Law Group for a free consultation. We believe that you have the right to total compensation and will do our best to ensure that you get it. We will treat your case with the care and discretion you deserve.

Tampa Office
13513 Prestige Pl. Suite 103
Tampa, FL 33635
(813) 303-0916

 

Matthew Dolman

Personal Injury Lawyer

This article was written and reviewed by Matthew Dolman. Matt has been a practicing civil trial, personal injury, products liability, and mass tort lawyer since 2004. He has successfully fought for more than 11,000 injured clients and acted as lead counsel in more than 1,000 lawsuits. Always on the cutting edge of personal injury law, Matt is actively engaged in complex legal matters, including Suboxone, AFFF, and Ozempic lawsuits.  Matt is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum for resolving individual cases in excess of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. He has also been selected by his colleagues as a Florida Superlawyer and as a member of Florida’s Legal Elite on multiple occasions. Further, Matt has been quoted in the media numerous times and is a sought-after speaker on a variety of legal issues and topics.

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