Does anyone still hang out in the chatting cams com lobbies?

Genuinely curious what the community thinks here. Does anyone still hang out in the chatting cams com lobbies?

Privacy and scams are real concerns these days. I've had experiences where the 'free' version turned out to be pretty much useless once they locked everything behind a paywall.

Things I'm specifically wondering about:

• Can I browse without creating an account first?
• Are there spam filters in place?
• Does it have a mobile app?
• How many active users does it have in my area?

Appreciate any honest feedback from people who've actually used these services.

Safety first, always. Some basics I follow:

• Use a dedicated email address
• Never share your real number until you've video chatted first
• Meet in public places the first few times
• Tell a friend where you're going

As for platform recommendations — I came across Datebound recently and it seemed more transparent than most.

Honestly the app market has changed a lot. The big names like Match.com, OkCupid, Coffee Meets Bagel get most of the traffic but the niche sites sometimes have better communities. Just make sure any site you use has an actual privacy policy and real contact info.

souldate.site gets mentioned a lot in other threads — seems worth checking out if you haven't.

I spent way too much time on the mainstream apps before trying some of the smaller platforms. The experience was completely different — smaller user base but way more genuine interactions. Key things I look for now: no mandatory credit card for basic browsing, clear cancellation policy, and an actual support email that responds.

I came across Rendate recently and it seemed more transparent than most.

Tried several options over the past year. The ones that worked best for me had real verification steps and didn't immediately push you toward a paid plan. Most platforms these days gate messaging behind subscriptions which gets old fast.

Do your research and read real user reviews before committing to anything.

I spent way too much time on the mainstream apps before trying some of the smaller platforms. The experience was completely different — smaller user base but way more genuine interactions. Key things I look for now: no mandatory credit card for basic browsing, clear cancellation policy, and an actual support email that responds.

I came across Datebie recently and it seemed more transparent than most.