Online Chat

Instant Messaging, IRC, Web Based Chat Rooms, and Bulletin Boards

There are many ways for people to communicate online beyond the use of e-mail. Many of these methods provide instant response to other individuals or groups who are online at the same time that you are.

Online chatting is a common way for predators to lure children off-line, and an easy method for hackers to invade or plant viruses.

Instant Messaging

Instant Messaging is easy to use and it's free.

Instant Messaging (IM) systems let you type in messages and send them over the Internet to your friends who are online and they can answer you right away. The system works independently of your browser so you can be surfing the Net and keeping in touch with your friends at the same time. Many computers now come with IM software already installed for the more popular IM systems.

The rules of safe "IM'ing" are similar to the rules of safe e-mailing. However, there are two additional actions that are important for you to know about: making yourself invisible, and ignoring unwanted messages. Each IM program uses a different method to activate these features, so use the help menu in your instant messaging program to learn how to use them.

IRC

IRC (Internet Relay Chat) is another free service that allows users to stay in touch with one another online.

Connecting to different channels or chat rooms in IRC allows you to find groups of people all over the world. Many channels (or chatrooms) are labeled so that you can find others who have similar interests.

On your IRC client program you can find a list of other users in the room, as well as the ongoing flow of conversation between those people. Some IRC clients even allow you to be in more than one chat room at a time.

Web-Based Chat Rooms

There are many other Chat services on the Web including those provided by AOL, ICQ, and Yahoo, the plethora of online dating services, and several television networks. Each of them uses a different method of log-on or registration. Many of these services are free and can be accessed by anyone in the world, so parents should be cautious about letting children use these services.

Some web-based chat services offer the option of private chat where two or more users can be invited to a smaller chat session. This, unfortunately, proves to be the ideal environment for cyber stalkers.

To read more about the dangers involved in chat rooms, go to chatdanger.com.

Bulletin Boards

Bulletin boards are the oldest form of online chat. Bulletin boards, or "message boards," have been around almost since the Internet's inception as a way for users to communicate with one another. Unlike the other chat forms this method is not necessarily instantaneous and messages do not go away as soon as you close the window.

Bulletin boards are usually used for ongoing discussions and are basically websites that allow you to post a conversation topic that others can read and respond to. Some of these boards have rules about what type of information you can include or in what format you are allowed to post. A few of these sites are even monitored in order to filter out lewd content.

For information about using proper etiquette in chat rooms and bulletin boards, visit our Internet Culture page.