2008 Woodie Awards
Incident prompts review of chat room safety
Jessica Garcia
Issue date: 10/24/02 Section: Front Page
Some think Internet chat rooms are a safe way to connect with new people. But what happens when people use the information gained in these chat rooms to harm others?
Linda Morgan, Garden City Community College criminal justice instructor, said chat rooms are a dangerous place for young and old alike.
"Providing any personal information is dangerous," Morgan said. "That includes your real address, your real phone [number], anything that is real. There have literally been people who talked [in a chat room] about going on vacation the next week, and they actually come home and find their home has been burglarized."
Ashley Craig, Garden City, said she thinks the chat rooms are dangerous because everybody has the Internet, good or bad.
"I think [chat rooms] can be dangerous because there are some real freaks out there," Craig said. "You don't know who you are talking to. You are just typing, so you can't read anything about [their personality]."
Because this is true, Morgan reveals some warning signs that the person on the other end of that computer screen may have bad intentions.
"If those people are encouraging you to fly and meet them somewhere or they would really like to talk to you by yourself, those are definite warning signs," Morgan said.
One should never arrange to meet with someone they met on the Internet.
"If people really insist on meeting, they need to meet in a public place," Morgan said. "They need to go with someone else and never go by themselves. Make sure somebody else knows you are going to meet this person."
Jennifer Simmons, Holcomb, worries about her sister who is always in chat rooms.
"I always tell her to get out of chat rooms," Simmons said. "It's too easy to give out too much information. Someone might come on and say 'where are you from?' The next person might ask what your name is. Even your IDs can give out information. A lot of people have an ID that has to do with where they live or go to school."
Knowing the rules of Internet safety can help users to safely participate in online communication.
"The Internet is an extremely valuable resource, [but] the Internet can be extremely dangerous," Morgan said. "Teenagers, college students, parents and all of us need to work together and practice good, safe rules."
For more information on how to use the Internet safely, visit www.cybersilhouette.com.Potential dangers of Internet chat roomsCAREFULHANGNever give out your e-mail or home address, phone number, or where you go to school ARRANGINGNever meet someone offline unless you are sure who they are and then only in a public place with a parent or friendInform your friends or an adult if you come across something that makes you feel uncomfortable
Linda Morgan, Garden City Community College criminal justice instructor, said chat rooms are a dangerous place for young and old alike.
"Providing any personal information is dangerous," Morgan said. "That includes your real address, your real phone [number], anything that is real. There have literally been people who talked [in a chat room] about going on vacation the next week, and they actually come home and find their home has been burglarized."
Ashley Craig, Garden City, said she thinks the chat rooms are dangerous because everybody has the Internet, good or bad.
"I think [chat rooms] can be dangerous because there are some real freaks out there," Craig said. "You don't know who you are talking to. You are just typing, so you can't read anything about [their personality]."
Because this is true, Morgan reveals some warning signs that the person on the other end of that computer screen may have bad intentions.
"If those people are encouraging you to fly and meet them somewhere or they would really like to talk to you by yourself, those are definite warning signs," Morgan said.
One should never arrange to meet with someone they met on the Internet.
"If people really insist on meeting, they need to meet in a public place," Morgan said. "They need to go with someone else and never go by themselves. Make sure somebody else knows you are going to meet this person."
Jennifer Simmons, Holcomb, worries about her sister who is always in chat rooms.
"I always tell her to get out of chat rooms," Simmons said. "It's too easy to give out too much information. Someone might come on and say 'where are you from?' The next person might ask what your name is. Even your IDs can give out information. A lot of people have an ID that has to do with where they live or go to school."
Knowing the rules of Internet safety can help users to safely participate in online communication.
"The Internet is an extremely valuable resource, [but] the Internet can be extremely dangerous," Morgan said. "Teenagers, college students, parents and all of us need to work together and practice good, safe rules."
For more information on how to use the Internet safely, visit www.cybersilhouette.com.Potential dangers of Internet chat roomsCAREFULHANGNever give out your e-mail or home address, phone number, or where you go to school ARRANGINGNever meet someone offline unless you are sure who they are and then only in a public place with a parent or friendInform your friends or an adult if you come across something that makes you feel uncomfortable