The Dangers of Chat Rooms
Chat rooms were considered the first-generation social communication and networking platforms of earlier computing eras. Despite the recent advent of Web 2.0 social media and sites, chat rooms are still popular. Millions of Americans (young and old) enter online chat rooms and hang around, socialize casually, discuss issues, catch up with online friends and acquaintances. However, many threats and dangers primarily related to chat rooms have come to the fore for users.
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Hacking Threats
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Chat room users are vulnerable to threats from spyware, other suspicious programs, malware and rogue semi-automatic applications that can steal sensitive data, passwords and other information from their PCs.
Online Predators
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Pedophiles, cyber stalkers and other online predators are considered among the biggest dangers for under-aged kids, pre-teens and young teens in popular and highly populated chat rooms.
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Addiction
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Hanging around for hours in various chat rooms can be highly addictive. Health scientists, researchers and sociologists consider addiction to chat rooms almost as harmful as alcohol addiction or drug abuse on overall human health.
Social Disconnect and Disengagement
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Chat room regulars can become easily disconnected from real-life activities and extra-curricular pursuits, leading to general aloofness, less contact with real-world friends and a gradual process of social disengagement.
Illegal Activities
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Many chat rooms are also known to be havens for drug dealers, anti-social elements, Web-based pharmacies and Internet criminals who can get vulnerable chat room participants to get involved in undesirable and even illegal activities.
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