Most young people can hardly go a day without logging on to the Internet. In particular, they love to enter chat rooms to interact with people their age with similar interests. At least that's what they want to believe it is about. But a lot of dangers lurk in chat rooms and young people should protect themselves.
Pornography, paedophilia and Nazi propaganda are just three examples of the material that children and youths might encounter in a chat room.
It can become a problem when parents have no idea what their children might expect from their experience. There are guidelines for safe chatting that children and parents should know. Are there particular regulations that apply to chatting?
Yes. The same regulations apply to communication services found on the Internet as in real life. This means juvenile law and penal law applies.
What does that mean?
It is illegal to libel someone. Using dirty names also is taboo as is inciting violence against an ethnic group or against an individual. Sending pornography or films, photos or texts that glorify violence is also forbidden as is sexually harassing minors or having the intention to do so.
It's also important to know that everyone has the right to his or her own image. That means that when someone has taken a photo of another person, even a friend, it cannot be published without that person's permission.
What should young people do first when they want to chat?
Children should sit down with their parents and explain to them what they would like to do. Then parents and children can agree on certain rules for chatting, said Kristine Kretschmer of a German children's internet portal. Just as children are not allowed to go outside the house any time they wish, they shouldn't be allowed to chat any time they like, rather only at certain times. Parents also should make clear to their children that they are always there for them.
What do the chat rules look like? Children especially should protect their personal data. That means they should never divulge their real name. Instead they should come up with a humorous nickname. They also should never reveal their address, the addresses of friends, their home telephone number or the name of the school they attend. They also should never send a photo or film of themselves. Kretschmer also warns that children and youths should never actually meet a chat partner they don't already personally know.
Can the security of a chat room or social networking site be increased by technical means?
In every chat room certain settings can be made to increase security when chatting. A user, for example, can dictate that only his or her own friends are notified when he posts something and that only they can contact him or her. Another setting ensures that a user must approve a contact before he can be listed as a friend. Veith Schliemann of Weisser Ring, a German organisation that supports crime victims, recommends activating this setting. Blocking a contact is often possible. When someone is blocked, their messages can no longer be received by the person who blocked them and they cannot see whether the person they want to contact is on line. It's also recommended not to use a real photo of oneself as a profile image, rather something representative or symbolic.
Are there differences among chat rooms?
Yes, there are many sites that are supervised and there are chat rooms for children that are secure. In these chat rooms both children and parents can be sure that particular rules are followed when chatting. Some chat rooms for children have moderators who may read the contributions that children make to ensure that the rules are upheld. The children's contributions are published only after they go through this check.
What should one do when something odd occurs in a chat? Report it immediately. Many chat rooms have a so-called alarm button that can be clicked on. In addition children and youths can always turn to the moderator. Whenever a child feels they are being pestered, they should say so. It's also important that parents are notified.
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