What is an Internet Chat Room
Whatever is typed in a Chat room instantly appears on the screen for everyone else to see. All the people that are taking part are listed with either a nickname or screen name to the right-hand side of the chat. Entering a Chat room is similar to eavesdropping in a locker room as there may be more than one conversation going on at once or everyone is talking at once.
There are two types of Chat services, Internet Relay Chat (IRC) and individual Web page Chat rooms. While IRC is the most popular, special software must be downloaded to your computer in order to run it. Chat is also available on individual Web pages, which are popular because it’s easy to use and special software isn’t needed. When a user enters a room, they have to give an alias or nickname, which allows them to pretend to be anyone they like. For many users, becoming someone else is all part of the fun. It’s appealing to some because they can hide behind a mask where they can meet people, flirt or just escape into another world altogether. Teenagers tend to enjoy Chat because it’s immediate and it’s a private world that many parents know little about.
There have been instances where young people have become so addicted and immersed in Chat that their social skills and schoolwork greatly deteriorated. An even greater danger of young people using Chat rooms is when they meet someone who wishes to form a relationship with them in order to meet them offline. When children are in a Chat area they are in a very public “place.” The scary fact is they don’t necessarily know the true identity of anyone they are talking to in the Chat room. Predators tend to target children in Chat rooms who appear to be left out or lonely. Predators often pretend to be supportive and sympathetic to gain the trust of the vulnerable young person.
Instead of giving your child a list of “don’ts” that may make them run the other way, talk to them sensitively and encourage them to be “street smart” when using the Internet. Advise children to never reveal any personal details about themselves, school or family. Furthermore, never allow your children to meet anyone they have contacted on the Internet without you going with them. Be especially careful about your children using Chat rooms unsupervised, especially those that are not moderated. If your child ever tells you that someone who they think might be an adult is harassing them in a Chat room, contact your local police immediately. For additional information and resources about the dangers of Chat rooms.
Tags: Chat Rooms, Chat services, Internet