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Paltalk is a Web-based text, chat service for voice and video chatting. The Paltalk Messenger program is available in a free, banner-supported format as well as an ad-free version that requires users to subscribe.

The service provides access to several thousand video-enabled chat rooms in which users can interact one-on-one or with large groups of people simultaneously. Additionally, Paltalk doubles as a conventional instant messaging service, allowing users to interact via Yahoo!, ICQ, and AIM/AOL messengers with a single buddy list.

Paltalk users can find and meet each other via Paltalk People, a social networking site. The site allows users to create and post their own personalized profile displaying photos and listing hobbies, interests etc. Users can then browse or search the database for keywords and view any profile that matches their query.

Categorized chat rooms are also offered, with the most popular being finance, religion, distance learning, politics, culture and music chat rooms where people play and/or sing songs. The chat rooms have a queue system which allows users to "raise their hand" and wait in line for their turn. Users have the ability to create and moderate their own chat rooms, however Paltalk employs more than 250 trained administrators to ensure that discussions are appropriate and do not violate Paltalk terms of service.

Paltalk is used on the Opie and Anthony Radio show. The pair have a camera set up in the studio and often talk about it on the show. The company has also received publicity for hosting live chats with numerous celebrities and influential personalities including Reverend Jesse Jackson, Dan Burstein, and family therapist Kim West a.k.a. “the Sleep Lady”.

Paltalk is a privately held New York based company founded in 1998. Paltalk claims 4 million users worldwide, making it the largest voice and video chat community on the World Wide Web. Paltalk also owns and operates HearMe, a video and voice-enabled web conferencing service that allows users to conduct group meetings.

Paltalk has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, The Dallas Morning News, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Miami Herald, The Philadelphia Inquirer, New York Post and CNET among others.

Controversy

Paltalk was once criticised for allegedly installing the My Search toolbar from My Way without the users knowledge, however they no longer engage in this practice.

Paltalk is also criticised by its user base for not adopting a "hands off" approach to administrating its rooms. Unlike other chat services like Yahoo Chat, the administrators at Paltalk are very involved with mediating what is allowed to be discussed. For example, a comment advocating military escalation in political discussions can lead to the user being banned. This is outlined in their Terms of Service as follows:

"Without limiting the foregoing, examples of unacceptable conduct include: (a) threatening, harassing, or intimidating another user, (b) transmitting any unlawful, threatening, abusive, profane, offensive, defamatory, or hateful text or voice communication or Images or other material, or any racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable material, or any material that violates or infringes the intellectual property or privacy or publicity or other rights of any other party; (c) using any obscene or offensive alias; impersonating another user, including, without limitation, a Paltalk employee, administrator or representative; (d) disparaging the Paltalk service, Paltalk or its representatives, administrators or employees or solicitation; (e) posting or transmitting any advertising, promotional materials or other forms of solicitation to other users; (f) permitting language, text or images that are inappropriate to the room you host or abusing your right to take action against participants in your room or (g) disrupting the normal operation of any chat room or otherwise acting in a manner that negatively impacts other users or is inconsistent with the rating of a room or attempting, soliciting or abetting another to do of any of the above."

While item (b) is fairly common in most TOSs, what is unusual is the strict enforcement of the policy with regards to not only objectionable material but also material that can is determined to be offensive, in the judgement of Paltalk. The uniqueness of item (d) is undeterminable, but no analogue in any other popular chat service visibly exists. These factors have combined to lead to allegations of censorship.

See also

• Instant messaging
• Comparison of instant messaging clients

External links

• Official Site
• Terms of Service
• Paltalk Social Networking
• Paltalk Chat Groups
• Paltalk Against Malaria

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