How to Learn About Online Chat Room Ethics
Online chat rooms offer a digital venue in which users may engage in social networking by participating in topic-specific discussions. Unlike many methods of online communication, a chat room is often monitored in real-time by trained staff to ensure the enforcement of protocol, or TOS (Terms of Service). However, it is expected that all users learn about and abide by chat-room ethics, often referred to in a general sense as "Netiquette."
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Instructions
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Learn About Specific Chat Room Rules
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Look for the guidelines for chat room participation on the Web site where the chat room is provided. These rules are usually labeled as TOS, or Terms of Service.
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Follow the advice of Internet safety and ethics advocates if there are no Terms of Service available on the site where the chat room is hosted. More information is available at the CyberAngels Web site (See Resources below).
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Avoid Common Chat Room Mistakes
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Avoid using all caps when sending a message in a chat room, since this is considered "shouting" and a distraction to other users.
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Do not use offensive language.
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Refrain from responding to another's inappropriate behavior. This is known as "flaming" and serves no purpose other than to exacerbate the situation.
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Guard your privacy and respect the privacy of others. Never share personal information about yourself (such as your real name or address) or ask for the same from others.
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Remember that communication in a chat room lacks certain conventional cues used for interpretation, such as tone and body language. Adhering to chat room ethics helps keep your meaning and intent from being understood.
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Tips & Warnings
"Netiquette" refers to an adopted set of guidelines that govern ethics and acceptable codes of behavior while engaged in chat-room discussions. Basically, netiqutte requires you to behave in a pleasant and responsible manner.
For tips on how to protect children online and how to report security violations, read "Social Networking Sites: A Parent's Guide," provided by the Federal Trade Commission (see Resources below).
Enforcement of chat room ethics is usually up to the site owner (unless a serious infraction occurs, such as the solicitation of a minor or other illegal activity). Usually, a one-time violation results in a warning. However, multiple violations may result in being banned from the site.
