4 Best Tips for Online Chat Rooms

Using chat rooms online is mostly about having fun, but there are definitely a few tips you need to keep in mind for safety. They’re really easy to remember, so it won’t impact your chatting experience if you start to think about safety. Not all people on the internet are bad or unsafe, but it’s best to follow these tips for those just-in-case scenarios. Have chat fun and stay safe!

1. Don’t Share Personal Information

You should definitely be wary of anyone who asks for too much personal information. Things that should raise an eyebrow include asking for your address, your financial or credit card info, what school you go to, or other identifying information. You really should never even share the exact city you live in or the place where you work. Some information could be used to steal your identity, while other information could be used to stalk you.

2. Be Careful When Meeting People

If you do like someone enough from the internet to meet them in real life, make sure you do so safely. Never go to someone’s house for a first in-person meeting. Meet up in a public place and always let someone know where you are going, just in case. When you do meet up in public, pay attention to any red flags. If something doesn’t seem right to you, then it probably isn’t. Listen to your gut instincts and you will stay safe!

3. Friendship is Not Mandatory

In the physical world, people have the choice of who to be friends with. The same goes for the online world. You might not get along with every single person you meet, and that’s OK. No one is obligated to be your friend and you don’t have to become someone’s friend. If someone tries to manipulate you into being their friend by saying strange things that make you feel bad, they might have ulterior motives. Beware of people who want things from you. They may be catfishes or people who just want your dough. However, there are some people online who want genuine friendship!

4. Build a Reputation

When you join an online chatroom as an unknown person, you may notice some people seem to almost have celebrity status in the room. They may get some type of preferential treatment because people know who they are. They have built up a reputation. How do you do that? Well, participating in the conversation, being nice, and standing up for people who are getting bullied is a good place to start. The truth is, you may just have to stick to the same chat room for a little while in order to build up your reputation so people trust you and come to enjoy their interactions with you to the fullest!