The newest viral social networking craze on the Internet, sweeping not only college campuses but the entire nation, is Chatroulette. It seems as if chat rooms, made popular in the 1990s, have been given a facelift and now come in the new and improved form known as Chatroulette.

Chatroulette is a site that allows users to video chat with people from around the world. However, a webcam is not required; if you can engage a person with your blank screen long enough, you might just be lucky enough to have a text conversation with them on the side box provided to users.

Andrey Ternovskiy, a 17-year-old high school student from Moscow, created the site, according to The New York Times reports — Ternovskiy has refused most press interviews due to his age.

“Everyone finds his or her own way of using the site. Some think it is a game, others think it is a whole unknown world, others think it is a dating service,” Ternovskiy told the Times.

Chatroulette requires that you be over the age of 16, but you may encounter teens who are younger than that, and there is no sure way for the Web site to verify one’s age.

Professor Rose Williams, a lecturer in the department of computer science, admits to never having used any type of chat room or social networking site.

“I think they are a ridiculous waste of time. I suppose if I were a young, single professional I might feel differently. Socializing, trying to meet people who share your interests — especially if you are single and trying to find a partner — these activities have always been a ‘mine field,’ and I don’t believe that social networking can change that,” Williams said.

Professor Dennis Foreman, another lecturer in the department of computer science, shared a similar view to Williams’.

“It seems that this is the 21st-century version of pen pals. Even if it does not allow reconnections, it does let the ‘players’ communicate outside their existing circle of friends and possibly build new friendships. It is also another chance for people to lose/waste time,” Foreman said.

If you don’t like what you see on screen, or don’t like where the conversation you’re having is going, you can simply hit the “Next” button, and instantly you’re randomly paired up with another person out there in cyberspace. But be careful, the “Next” button works both ways, as you may be the one to be axed from the chat.

Gabrielle Ciaccia, a junior sociology major, says she likes the power to hit “Next” because you never know who or what you’re going to get.

“(Chatroulette) has the potential to provide hours of ridiculous entertainment. Some content is X-rated and some users are boring, but I’d say there is always some guaranteed hilarity,” said Ciaccia.

Other students, like Aubrey Bertin, a junior cinema major, have the same view of the site.

“I go on Chatroulette because it’s like a mystery. Sometimes it’s going to be a guy in a wig or sometimes it’s going to be a lonely guy with no pants on,” Bertin said.

As has been done with Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites, celebrities themselves have begun to test the waters with Chatroulette. Last week screenshots of a college student video chatting with model-turned-actor Ashton Kutcher surfaced on the Internet.

Most recently former Danity Kane member Aubrey O’Day took to her Twitter account and tweeted, “Must shop for a HOT Chatroulette outfit! What do you guys wanna see me doing? … don’t be dirty!”

Matt Luthman, a junior psychology major, said that despite its hit-or-miss quality, the randomness makes Chatroulette more interesting.

“If you can make it past the myriad of creepy guys, it’s more fun than a barrel of monkeys,” Luthman said.