Onon Chat: Talk to a Stranger

Some evenings there is nobody to write to, yet you want to chat. Or the opposite: you want to talk to someone who does not know you or your circle. Onon Chat picks a random partner inside Telegram, and nobody learns your name 💬

The interface is in Russian and no registration is needed. Here is how to start a search, what the commands are and how to avoid regretting a random encounter.

Three commands instead of a profile

There is no profile form. Start the bot and pick your gender, and everything after that works through commands.

• /searchchat. Starts a search for a new partner.
• /searchend. Stops the search if you decide not to wait.
• /chatend. Ends the current conversation.

Those three cover almost everything. When a pair is found, the bot connects you and messages travel between you through the bot with no names.

What to talk about with a stranger

Conversations are random, so the best opening is simple: a hello, a question about the day and one about interests. Ask about favorite music, games, the last book read.

Do not expect every dialogue to be meaningful. Someone will answer with one word and leave, and that is fine: end the chat and look for the next one.

What stays hidden and what does not

Your partner cannot see your profile, name or number. You know nothing about them either, except what they choose to write.

But anonymity lasts only until you give away too much yourself. Name your city, school or workplace, share a social link or send a photo with a recognizable place, and you can be found.

Rules for staying safe

Strangers vary. Most only want to talk, but some troll, beg for money or try to learn personal details.

1. Keep real details to yourself. Name, address, school, workplace and phone number stay with you.
2. Do not follow links. A request to open a link often leads to a scam site.
3. Do not send money or codes. No conversation needs a code from a text message.
4. Do not send explicit photos. They can be saved and used against you.
5. End an unpleasant dialogue. The end command is always at hand.

If you are under 18

In anonymous chats you cannot be sure of your partner's age. Teenagers should be extra careful, refuse to meet in person and tell their parents if a conversation turns strange or frightening.

Parents can calmly discuss such bots with their children beforehand, not banning everything but explaining where the risks are.

How it compares to regular dating

The plus of a random chat is the lack of pressure: you can try topics and not fear a mistake. The minus is that the quality of partners is unpredictable.

If you want lasting company, look for like-minded people in topic chats where members are gathered by interest. A random chat is best as a light, short conversation.