If you're keen to get chatting online, there are a number of steps you should follow to ensure that you have a safe and rewarding experience.
1. Choosing a Chatroom
Whether you want to talk about skydiving, politics or the latest films, there are chat rooms for just about every topic you can think of. Even if you can't find an existing chat room that suits you, you can usually create your own. Try the following:
- Search the Internet for Web-based chat rooms on specific topics.
- See if your instant message program offers a chat room function. Many IM programs allow users to participate in public chat rooms as well as create their own.
- Check for any chat room utilities offered by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) - most large commercial ISPs offer a variety of chat rooms categorised by topic or demographic segment, as well as general chat rooms with no specific focus.
- Think about using Internet Relay Chat (IRC), which is a multi-user, multi-channel chat system that is run on a network.
2. Creating a Nickname
Before you enter a chat room, you will usually be required to choose a nickname; the more creative and original your chat name, the better. Your nickname will be the first impression that other chat room users will have of you, so take some time to think of a great chat name which will make you sound interesting to others. Try picking a nickname that describes you, that reflects your personality or life situation without giving away any personal information. It is also best to choose nicknames that don't make your gender obvious or that may attract the wrong kind of interest, (unless that's what you're looking for of course ...)
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