Notorious website Chatroulette.com is trying to shake its image as the dirty cousin of social networking sites in a bid to target perverted users and win back investors.

Launched by Russian teenager Andrey Ternovskiy in November of 2009, the site uses webcams to link strangers, allowing them to skip to their next conversation partner when they are ready to move on.

After just six months online, the popular new-kid-on-the-online-block boasted almost two million users and Ternovskiy rejected a billion-dollar offer for its sale. But its reputation as a laughing stock came about just as quickly as its rise to fame.

The site became known mainly for its continuous imagery of male users masturbating, rather than for the new social networking concept it endeavoured to provide. As a result, Apple removed the Chatroulette app from its App Store last week due to its inappropriate content.

In a blog post, Ternovskiy announced a crackdown on inappropriate behaviour on the website, explaining that Chatroulette had begun storing users’ IP addresses and capturing images of offensive behaviour to assist in pinpointing users to block from the site. A warning on the homepage advises “Broadcasting inappropriate content to minors is a violation of both US and UN law.
We are actively cooperating with law enforcement agencies”.

Ternovskiy says the site seems to be cleaner following its recent actions and claims “the future seems to be bright”.