In the online world, we sometimes go against our parents’ firmest warnings and “talk to strangers.” Chatroulette is a service that allows users to click through a random and endless string of strangers on webcams and strike up a conversation. As a feminist, I went on hopeful that I might meet interesting people–women around the globe! But my hopes were quickly dashed. Usually, you meet 18-24 year old men, the majority of the site’s users, and more often than not you meet their penises. Or at least a sign reading “show us your tits!”
But this week, the boob-seekers got a horrifying surprise.
Click to a new Chatroulette window and you see a pretty brunette start to unbutton her blouse. From off screen comes the syrupy voice of a young man, “You can do it . . .”
She flips back her long hair, smiles coyly, and suddenly her eyes start to bleed.
Then thelastexorcism.com flashes across the screen–it’s a viral ad for the latest in the decades-long series of Exorcist horror films.
Thanks to a ‘Best Of’ YouTube reaction video, we can all watch with savory satisfaction as horny internet creepers get the creep scared out of them–temporarily, at least.
The viral was launched by Lionsgate earlier this week to the apparent horror of some of Chatroulette’s users. Oddly, Chatroulette went offline today, leaving only this cryptic message: “The experiment #1 is over now. Thanks for participating. Renewed and updated version of the website will be launched today.”
So is the Exorcism viral cruel? Mere marketing? The demise of Chatroulette? Or a mildly progressive act to take back space for women in a notoriously un-woman-friendly public forum?
Photo: Screenshot from the YouTube reaction video.
