., click here to update your profile and earn points towards a Starbucks gift card

Learn more

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Emerald Chat Parent Guide (2024)

., you're logged in!
Enjoy this resource and share our programs with your school district to send these resources to your whole community
Tell Your School District About Our Program
., you're logged in!
Share this resource with a parent at .  (or visit our new sharing center)
Copy Share Link
., you're logged in!
Enjoy this demo pass. Click the button to share access with leaders in your school district (or visit our new sharing center)
Share Your Demo Pass With School District Leaders

Become a member or login to learn more on this topic

Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
March 15, 2021

What is Emerald Chat?

  • Emerald was created to help people meet each other with similar interests in real-time, one-on-one text, video, and group chats 
  • Users create a profile with their “flair color,” gender, bio, pictures, and interests
  • Other users can see other users’ profiles when they become friends with the other users 
  • The website matches users based on their interests, gender, and “karma rating”
  • Users give or deduct “karma points” to other users based on their chats
  • Emerald says the difference between their product and other instant chat sites, like Omegle, is that they take great caution to prevent bots in their site 
  • “Whether it's just friends you’re looking for or something more,  you can find it on Emerald at the click of a button”
  • The website says users must be over 18 years old to use the platform, but there is not an age verification process other than simply clicking a button acknowledging the user is over 18
  • Their rules include anti-harassment, anti-spam and advertising, not allowing illegal/explicit content.  Moderators and deep learning technology work to identify users breaking the rules and ban users

Why should parents care about Emerald Chat?

  • Age verification does not exist beyond a basic user agreement 
  • The purpose of the site is to connect and talk with strangers
  • Users often share explicit messages or appear in profile or live videos nude
  • Strangers can easily ask for personal information to exploit other users
  • Topic discussions very quickly stray from the designated interests or categories
  • Like anything online, “private” conversations may be screen recorded or saved by the other anonymous users and shared off the platform for other purposes

Login or join the VIP membership today to view all resources about Emerald Chat!

Become a member or log in to learn more on this topic

Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
Quotation marks

This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!

StarStarStarStarStar

Sharon M.

Parent VIP Member

Quotation marks

Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.

StarStarStarStarStar

Director of College Advising

Educator Webinar Attendee

Quotation marks

This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.

StarStarStarStarStar

Irene C.

Educator Webinar Attendee

Emerald Chat Parent Guide (2024)

., you're logged in!
Enjoy this resource and share our programs with your school district to send these resources to your whole community
Tell Your School District About Our Program
., you're logged in!
Share this resource with a parent at .  (or visit our new sharing center)
Copy Share Link
., you're logged in!
Enjoy this demo pass. Click the button to share access with leaders in your school district (or visit our new sharing center)
Share Your Demo Pass With School District Leaders
., now is your chance to earn 10 points towards a $5 Starbucks gift card by telling us what you learned in this resource!
To earn your gift card, please be specific and write a full sentence that helps us learn what you liked about the topic. Our non-profit uses this information to improve our program.

40 characters remaining to reach minimum

Your submission has been received! You now have additional points added to your account.

If you are in a live event, please comment "I filled out the form!" in the live event chat box!

Otherwise you are free to roam around the site.
Thanks!
-Josh and The SmartSocial Team
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Emerald is a new website that specifically markets itself as an alternative to the popular Omegle website that is all about talking to strangers. The topics of live text chats and videos can very quickly become inappropriate for families.

Parent & educator training video

What is Emerald Chat?

emerald chat logo
  • Emerald was created to help people meet each other with similar interests in real-time, one-on-one text, video, and group chats 
  • Users create a profile with their “flair color,” gender, bio, pictures, and interests
  • Other users can see other users’ profiles when they become friends with the other users 
  • The website matches users based on their interests, gender, and “karma rating”
  • Users give or deduct “karma points” to other users based on their chats
  • Emerald says the difference between their product and other instant chat sites, like Omegle, is that they take great caution to prevent bots in their site 
  • “Whether it's just friends you’re looking for or something more,  you can find it on Emerald at the click of a button”
  • The website says users must be over 18 years old to use the platform, but there is not an age verification process other than simply clicking a button acknowledging the user is over 18
  • Their rules include anti-harassment, anti-spam and advertising, not allowing illegal/explicit content.  Moderators and deep learning technology work to identify users breaking the rules and ban users

Where is Emerald Chat available?

  • Online at Emeraldchat.com 
  • Developers say they are working on Android and iOS apps
  • Owned by Emerald Co. based in London
  • Free to visit and create an account
  • Emerald Gold has a monthly cost for more specific matches and an ad free experience

Emerald Chat in the news

13 News Now headline: Emerald chat app sparks warnings for parents
On Emerald, users simply indicate that they are at least 18, then choose whether they are male or female. Beyond that, there’s no way to verify someone's identity. ABC 13
News 2 WFY: The Emerald Chat connection: Savannah Childress Kidnapping
“Anytime you hear of an app that allows you to talk anonymously to each other, it’s bad,’ said Dr. Steve Webb, a Cybersecurity Expert. WFMY CBS News 2
Family Zone headline: did she know who she was talking to on her school-issued Chromebook?
A police investigation showed [the teen] was using her school-issued laptop to communicate with him on multiple platforms... [The teen] is back home now - 10 days after she was kidnapped by a man posing as a teenager on the notorious... Emerald Chat. Family Zone

Why should parents care about Emerald Chat?

  • Age verification does not exist beyond a basic user agreement 
  • The purpose of the site is to connect and talk with strangers
  • Users often share explicit messages or appear in profile or live videos nude
  • Strangers can easily ask for personal information to exploit other users
  • Topic discussions very quickly stray from the designated interests or categories
  • Like anything online, “private” conversations may be screen recorded or saved by the other anonymous users and shared off the platform for other purposes

What can parents do?

  • Talk with your students about the danger of talking to strangers, even online
  • Help your students find age-appropriate ways to meet new friends (sports, activities, moderated student groups, etc.)
  • Remind your students to never meet someone from the internet as other users may not actually be who they say they are offline
  • Tell your students they can always come to you (or another trusted adult) if they ever feel uncomfortable about something that happened online
  • Join the SmartSocial Very Informed Parent program to learn how to start conversations about shining online with your students

Conclusion

Students crave social connections and in the online world, those connections might seem safe with computer screens between users. However, young students who are eager to meet others can be exposed to foul language or nudity in live chats or can become victims of exploitation.

Telling curious kids to not use a website like Emerald, or other sites like it is not enough. It is important for parents to talk with kids about the real-life dangers of online chatting with strangers and regularly remind them that nothing you do online is ever really private. 

School Districts: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.

What is Emerald Chat?

  • Emerald was created to help people meet each other with similar interests in real-time, one-on-one text, video, and group chats 
  • Users create a profile with their “flair color,” gender, bio, pictures, and interests
  • Other users can see other users’ profiles when they become friends with the other users 
  • The website matches users based on their interests, gender, and “karma rating”
  • Users give or deduct “karma points” to other users based on their chats
  • Emerald says the difference between their product and other instant chat sites, like Omegle, is that they take great caution to prevent bots in their site 
  • “Whether it's just friends you’re looking for or something more,  you can find it on Emerald at the click of a button”
  • The website says users must be over 18 years old to use the platform, but there is not an age verification process other than simply clicking a button acknowledging the user is over 18
  • Their rules include anti-harassment, anti-spam and advertising, not allowing illegal/explicit content.  Moderators and deep learning technology work to identify users breaking the rules and ban users

Why should parents care about Emerald Chat?

  • Age verification does not exist beyond a basic user agreement 
  • The purpose of the site is to connect and talk with strangers
  • Users often share explicit messages or appear in profile or live videos nude
  • Strangers can easily ask for personal information to exploit other users
  • Topic discussions very quickly stray from the designated interests or categories
  • Like anything online, “private” conversations may be screen recorded or saved by the other anonymous users and shared off the platform for other purposes

Login or join the VIP membership today to view all resources about Emerald Chat!

Become a member or log in to learn more on this topic

Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
Quotation marks

This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!

StarStarStarStarStar

Sharon M.

Parent VIP Member

Quotation marks

Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.

StarStarStarStarStar

Director of College Advising

Educator Webinar Attendee

Quotation marks

This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.

StarStarStarStarStar

Irene C.

Educator Webinar Attendee

Learn more

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Join Our Next Live Parent Q&A Events (and earn a $5 Starbucks gift card)*

Dec
10
Register

Optimize Parental Controls: Balancing Safety & Privacy for Families

Understand how to set up parental controls and monitor your students without being intrusive.

Dec
12
Register

Protecting Your Family With A Social Media Agreement

Learn how to set up a Family Media Agreement for your entire family in order to keep your family safer with technology and social media.

Dec
17
Register

AI for Student Success: Being Productive & Learning Future Skills

This virtual parent night event will explore the fascinating world of AI and the role it can have in every student's educational journey and future career paths.

Jan
14
Register

How To Shine Online With Your Social Media Accounts

Learn how students can use their social media accounts to help them Shine Online and better their future.

Jan
21
Register

How To Shine Online With Your Social Media Accounts

Learn how students can use their social media accounts to help them Shine Online and better their future.

Jan
28
Register

How To Shine Online With Your Social Media Accounts

Learn how students can use their social media accounts to help them Shine Online and better their future.

*Only for families in partner school districts or individual paid VIP members: to receive a gift card, simply attend the live event, join in the activities, and your family will be eligible to earn one gift card per year (while supplies last).

Become a Very Informed Parent (VIP) to get our social media suggestions in your email every Tuesday & Thursday.

Dotted arrow to right
Learn about our
"Very Informed Parent" 
VIP Program
Right arrow
Hello, I'm Josh, the founder of SmartSocial.com. Protect your family by taking my 1 minute quiz

This quiz will help you understand how safe your family is

Take Josh's 1 Min Quiz
Right arrow
Smart Social Logo

Schools & Districts: Partner with us to protect your community online

Our remote presentations (and website) teach over a million students each year how to shine online. We teach students how their accounts can be used to create a portfolio of positive accomplishments that impress colleges and employers.

Partner with SmartSocial.com
Right arrow
Smart Social Logo
Join Our Smart Social Podcast
each week on iTunes

With over 240 episodes, Josh Ochs interviews psychologists, therapists, counselors, teachers, and parents while showing you how to navigate social media to someday shine online.

Listen on: