Are chat rooms dangerous places for children?
Chat rooms are a great way for children to meet and talk to other children all over the world. But a child should always be very careful in chat rooms. They should always check with a parent that it is ok to be in a chat room. Even if a chat room says it is only for children, there is no way at the moment to tell if everyone there really is a child. It might be an adult or an older child trying to trick young net users. Your child should not not pretend to be anyone or anything they are not. If a child in a chat room starts to feel uncomfortable about what someone is saying, they should get out of there and tell an adult. If a child gets an e-mail telling them not to tell their parents about it, they should not reply, Instead they should tell an adult straight away. If children use instant messaging, encourage them to set up closed “buddy lists” for them and their friends that should help limit who can contact them.
