What is a chatroom? What are the risks?

A chatroom is a virtual “room” on the Internet where multiple people can communicate in real time. Users type messages and what they say appears on the screen alongside comments from others. Many chatrooms are topic specific and focus conversations around a shared interest.

You should know:

Chatrooms can be found in many locations online. They can be associated with websites or online communities. Most of the large Internet service providers (ISP) provide topic-specific chatrooms. Gaming sites often have chatrooms where you can type in messages to players and see their responses. Even sites set up for children may have chatrooms. Some of these rooms have a moderator to ensure users comply with guidelines (such as not giving out personal information or not having sexually explicit conversations).

It is common for chatrooms to have group dialogue, but individuals also enter chatrooms to find someone to speak with outside of the room. A user will often indicate who they are and what they are seeking. For example, if you are in a parenting chat room, you may see: “32/F/CA mother of 2 teens looking for info on Internet safety.” This means that the user is a 32-year-old female in California.

All chatrooms pose a potential risk to children. Chatrooms may expose children to individuals who wish to do them harm. Someone seeking access to children can use a chatroom to find potential victims and attempt to build a relationship with them. The longer a child chats with someone, the more comfortable the child may feel about that person's honesty or integrity.

Chatrooms can also expose children to graphic material and topics. Even in a chatroom not designated for this type of conversation, another user could post an explicit website address or questionable content.

Child-specific chatrooms may pose a potential threat to children. Though some sites require all members to be under 18 years old, it is easy for someone looking to harm to a child to create an online profile so that he or she appears to be younger. Children often feel they can easily trust someone who is the same age.

If you believe your child is being enticed online, contact the CyberTipline at 1.800.843.5678 or www.cybertipline.com.

What you can do:

• Set ground rules for your children's online behavior and supervise their chat activities
• Consider using software tools to help monitor what children are doing and saying on the computer. Often these programs will record chat conversations. You can also contact your ISP to find out if there are parental controls to eliminate access to chatrooms
• Education and communication are the best way to keep your children safer online. Chatrooms can be a way to learn and interact with others but it is important for children to be aware of the risks and dangers so they may make more responsible decisions
• Your child may have access to the Internet outside the home, so talk with him or her about your expectations for online behavior. It is essential to communicate with your children and frequently discuss their online activities

• Encourage your children to trust their instincts and tell you if they experience something that makes them feel scared or uncomfortable
• Know who your children are communicating with. Review their phone lists periodically and help them to remove anyone who you don't know and trust in real life
• Teach your children about the possible dangers of adding a "friend of a friend"
• Make sure your children know to keep their personal information private. Remind them that nothing anyone types on the Internet is private, especially things posted in profiles
• Supervise all of your child’s online activities, and be especially vigilant when it comes to your child’s use of webcams
• Tell your child not to reply to unsolicited messages from individuals he or she does not know