Frequently asked questions

theChatStage is a real-time chat and live-debate platform. Pair up with strangers for one-on-one conversations, or pick a side on a topic and argue it live with an opponent while spectators watch.

Yes. Creating an account, chatting, and joining debates are all free. We don't run ads.

Yes to chat or debate, and you must be at least 16. Visitors without an account can browse debate topics and watch debates that are live or published. You sign up with an email and password, or with Google, and confirm your email.

16. You give your date of birth when you set up your profile and you confirm you are at least 16 when you accept the Terms of Use. Full rules are in our Terms of Use.

Browse approved topics, pick a side (Pro or Con), and join the queue. When someone picks the opposite side, you are matched into a live debate room, where messages, voice notes and images appear in real time. Prefer to take your time? Turn-based debates have six written turns, with 24 hours for each. You can edit an argument until your opponent has answered it. Spectators can watch but not speak.

Filter by country, language, age range, gender, and reputation. When you click Chat on an online person and they accept, you enter a private session. Busy? Join their queue. Offline? Schedule a chat and we tell you when they come online, by email too if you have email notifications on.

After a chat or debate ends, both people have 24 hours to rate each other on five traits: politeness, thoughtfulness, ease of talking to, honesty and open-mindedness. For a chat, both of you must have sent at least 10 messages. Ratings are anonymous. We tell you when someone gives you five stars, never who it was. Your reputation becomes visible once you have talked or debated with at least 3 different people.

We require email confirmation before you can sign in. You can report any person or message from inside a chat, debate or direct message, and block anyone you do not want to hear from. Messages are not pre-screened, so please report anything that breaks the rules. Our moderators review reports and can suspend accounts or ban them permanently.

No. Other people can see your display name, photo, age, gender, country, languages, interests, bio and, once you have enough ratings, your reputation scores. Your email address is never shown. We use it to sign you in and to send security emails and the notification emails you have not switched off.

The interface is in English. You can chat in any language, and you can filter by language to find people you can actually talk to.

Yes. Go to Settings and choose Delete account. Your profile, photo and sign-in are removed straight away. Messages you sent stay in the conversations of the people you talked to, shown as from 'Deleted user' and not linked to your name, and photos and voice messages stay with their conversation. Details are in our Privacy Policy.

Every notification email has an Unsubscribe link at the bottom. One click opts you out. You can resubscribe anytime. Account-security emails (confirmation, password reset) always send regardless.

Not in the app stores yet. theChatStage works in the browser on phones, tablets and desktops, and iPhone and Android apps are being prepared.

Inside any chat, debate room or direct message, click the flag icon. Pick a reason, add context if you want, and submit. Our moderators review reports, and serious violations lead to suspension or a permanent ban.

We work toward WCAG 2.1 level AA and are partially conformant today. Our Accessibility statement lists the known gaps, for example that voice notes have no captions or transcripts yet, and how to report a barrier.