Privacy_and_New_Technologies
Chat rooms have become enormously popular with internet users. Chat rooms have become a large social phenomenon for both adults and children (Independent Television Commission, 2004, p. 5). The Pew Internet & American Life Project estimates that 28 million Americans have visited Internet chat rooms (Hill, 2004). Chat allows many people across the world to directly communicate with each other by exchanging text. Chat rooms enable several individuals to interact in real-time. Instant messaging is one-on-one chat which enables an individual to communicate in real time with friends and family. AOL, MSN and Yahoo all offer chat rooms that cater to specific interests, and MSN Messenger is commonly used amongst youth worldwide.
Chat rooms can be run by a number of online and computer networks including Internet Relay Chat (IMC), web based chat offered by ISP’s, chat offered by websites, chat offered in interactive online role playing environments and through mobile phones. As chat software develops, individuals can send text messages to chat rooms, are able to communicate with their voice through the use of headsets, and can be seen by people they are chatting to through the use of webcams (Independent Television Commission, p. 5).
The benefits of chat rooms is they offer direct communication with people around the world, which broadens horizons and tolerance between individuals and communities (Independent Television Commission, p. 6). However, there are also many dangers of chat rooms that invade people’s privacy whilst online. The danger of being asked or leaving potentially identifiable information when using chat rooms can invade someone’s privacy by identifying who they are, their e-mail address and other personal information. This can then lead to large issues such as fraud, or the more common issue of spam.
Chat rooms are also places where hackers often trade software tools, stolen passwords and credit card numbers. Monitoring traffic on chat rooms however is virtually impossible (Hill, 2004).
Internet relay chat is similar to telephone party lines. However, the danger is that many people who participate in chat groups do not know who they are chatting with – including their real name and gender. Personal safety may be at risk if you meet people from chat rooms who were otherwise unknown to you (The Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner, 2004).
Another danger of chat rooms is that discussions can involve sexual or violent content, can promote hateful attitudes or offensive activities. Also, the anonymity of chat rooms can provide an avenue for harassment of others, particularly girls who may encounter verbal sexual harassment. Chat rooms, more than any other place online, are a cruising ground for paedophiles and other predators trying contact young people (Media Awareness Network, 2004). Due to the anonymous atmosphere of the internet, people, especially children, can become intimate in their conversation quickly.
Chat rooms can also lead to the invasion of a person’s online life. If people develop relationships with strangers met in chat rooms, there can be many invasive results that intrude on all aspects of their internet usage. This can lead to being cyberstalked, sent pornography, or even pressured to arrange a real-world meeting (Media Awareness Network, 2004).
Although there are many benefits of chat rooms, including meeting new friends and communicating with people around the world, there are many downfalls including the invasion of people’s privacy through obtaining personal information, cyberstalking and harassment. These negative aspects of chat rooms however have not affected its popularity. People today are more aware of the risks and guard their personal safety whilst chatting online.
Hill, Michael, (2004) "US Funds Chat Room Surveillance Study" Retrieved 26 October from http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/9894237.htm.
Independent Television Commission, (2004) "Safety ‘Net: Communications and Child Safety" Retrieved 26 October, 2004, from http://www.ofcom.org.uk/codes_guidelines/broadcasting/tv/safety_net.
Media Awareness Network (2004) "Chat Rooms" Retrieved 26 October, 2004, from http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/parents/internet/safe_passage_parents/chatrooms_safety_p.cfm.
The Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner, 2004, "Protecting Your Privacy on the Internet" Retrieved 26 October, 2004, from http://www.privacy.gov.au/internet/internet_privacy/index.html#2.11.
Krystie Harman 12:55, 26 Oct 2004 (EST)
Krystie Harman 19:33, 28 Oct 2004 (EST)
