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Chat Room And Social Networking Safety Tips

Updated on September 15, 2016
Be careful when navigating the sometimes treacherous cliffs of social networking.
Be careful when navigating the sometimes treacherous cliffs of social networking. | Source

Social networking sites and chat rooms are hangout to discuss a certain topic topics, or just have a general conversation. You will often meet many new people in the process, but you want to navigate the sometimes treacherous cliffs of online chatting with safety and common sense.

Q. Should I use my real name in chat rooms?

A. It is best not to use your real name in a chat room.

Q. Should I use my real name on a social networking site?

You can use your real name on a social networking site like Facebook and Linkedin, but you might want to set your profile to private. If you are using Facebook to promote your online writing or new book then it might be best to just make a fan page.

Q. Are people usually polite on social networking sites and chat rooms?

A.This depends on the type of site your are visiting, or the discussion at hand. I would expect people to be a bit more flirty on a social networking site devoted to dating then on one about knitting. A guy asking for asl on a knitting chat room would probably be banned pretty quickly. Social networking sites and chat rooms about politics and religion can also be heated, so user beware!

Q. Should I start my own chat room or social networking site?

A. Anyone is free to start their own social networking site or chat room, but I really do not see the point since there are already so many out there.

Q. Can I meet local people in a chat room or a social networking site?

A. Make sure you are using a site that is dedicated to your local area if that is your objective. I think it is best to meet friends online that share your common interests, and to continue meeting people in real life if you want to explore the dating scene. The site meetup.com might be best utilized for this purpose.

Q. Is it ever completely unsafe to ever meet someone from a chat room or social networking site?

A. It is never completely safe to meet any stranger, whether you have met them at a bar, in a chat room, or even if they are a friend of a friend on Facebook. However, it is much safer to meet someone in a public place than a secluded one. Arrange to talk to your new friend on the phone first before meeting in person. Give your date to be your cell phone number if possible and not a LAN line, which will make it easier to screen their calls. Agree to meet in a public place such as Starbucks or a mall food court, so you will be surrounded by people and there will be less chance for someone to hurt you.

Q. I really like him or her and I wonder if it is safe to get in their car on the first date. Should I get in someone's car on a first date?

A. Do not get in the car of someone you do not know. Arrange to meet this person in public for several dates, and arrange to meet their family and friends before you go anywhere with them alone. Any man or woman who is upset that you want to meet their family and friends is not worth your time.

Q. Do people who meet on chat rooms and social networking sites ever get married?

A. Many people who meet on chat rooms fall in love, date, and get married. However, do not think that going to a chat room or meeting someone on a social networking site is going to up your chances of finding quality dates. The quantity may be more plentiful online, but always aim for quality.

Q. Are chat rooms and social networking sites a good source of dates?

A. Do not use chat rooms and social networking sites as your sole source for dates. Check out local community centers, speed dating, hobby groups because these real world environments tend to deliver better results. You can make some great online friends in the chat rooms or social networking sites, but your chance of meeting someone you have common interests with is much more likely at a social activity, or in a class. Online dating and chat rooms are not bad, but there is no guarantee these will always work.

Q. Are long distance relationships with people you meet in chat rooms and social networking sites a good idea?

A. No, because these rarely work out. You have to live close to someone and spend a lot of time with someone to develop a relationship that will last. Long distance relationships are sexy and romantic, but few stand the test of time and geography.

Q. My online buddy/friend/ lover wants money to come see me, should I send it to them?

A. No because this person is pulling a scam, and they probably do it with many other people who they meet on the Internet. Once I met a man who revealed he had bought a plane ticket for a woman that never came to see him. To avoid the heartache, anger, and the disappointment that is associated with being scammed, please never send any money to anyone you meet on the Internet. In addition, it is better to not loan money to people you have been dating in person. If someone is in desperate need of money, suggest they consult a bank or ask their family. Once you start loaning money out to boyfriends/girlfriends there is no guarantee you will ever be paid back. Also, loaning money can put a strain on the relationship as you will feel this person is not very responsible, and cannot carry their own weight.

Q. Are there honest people on the Internet?

A. There are and you can take your time to get to know them. However, do not give out information about yourself just because they seem trustworthy.

Q. Is chatting fun?

A. It is as long as long as you never give people too much information about yourself. Enjoy your chatting experience and remember to have fun, and not to take it very seriously.

Q. Where can I find chat rooms and social networking sites?

A. You can find chat rooms through the Yahoo Messenger, and on Aim. You can use social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to meet people with common interests. You could also use MySpace, but in the last few years it is becoming more of a website musicians use to promote their bands and albums .

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