Popular video chat platform Omegle has shut down after 14 years amidst reported misuse of the platform, particularly in relation to claims of sexual abuse of minors.

In a lengthy statement announcing the closure, Omegle founder, Leif K Brooks said that operating the site was “no longer sustainable, financially nor psychologically” and that fighting to prevent it from being misused is “simply too much.”

The site, which randomly paired people with strangers, exploded in popularity, especially among children during COVID-19 lockdowns and is said to have over 73 million monthly visits, according to the Daily Mail.

Omegle, which was touted by its creator as a ‘great way to meet new friends,’ has however, faced scrutiny about its alleged failure to protect minors from sexual predators.

The platform is being sued by an American woman who alleges she was matched with a pedophile when she was 11 years old and was coerced into being his ‘online sex slave’ for three years, as per Sky News.

According to the Daily Mail, Omegle’s legal team has rejected any responsibility for the claims in a court hearing.

Mr Brooks also defended Omegle’s efforts to tackle abusers in his blog post, saying it “punched above its weight in content moderation.”

He also noted that the site has worked with authorities to “help put evildoers in prison.”

Despite underscoring the site’s strong points, in an act of balance, he also noted a few grey areas in its screening.

“There can be no honest accounting of Omegle without acknowledging that some people misused it, including to commit unspeakably heinous crimes,” said Brooks. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who used Omegle for positive purposes, and to everyone who contributed to the site’s success in any way. I’m so sorry I couldn’t keep fighting for you.”