For the twenty-first century, the chance to chat online with friends, family members, and potential dates is indeed incredibly popular. With the invention of instant messaging, short or long conversations can happen safely and anonymously between strangers. Anyone can connect with people in other lands and countries from the comfort of their own living room.

There are a number of ways to chat online, in addition to the aforementioned instant messaging applications. Several websites have easy interfaces which allow dating service members to talk directly to each other, without giving away important personal information. These websites do not use public interfaces like AOL, Yahoo IM, or ICQ and do not use user ID's.

Rules to Chat Online Safely and With More Fun!

There are many rules of "Netiquette," or proper online etiquette, that pertain specifically to conversing on a free online chat room. Of course, the written word is never as intimate or as expressive as words spoken in person. One can not tell exactly how a person is honestly reacting when reading their typed words, but with careful analysis over time, a better understanding can be met.

Never use obscene words or describe sexual content on a website chat unless the site is specifically designed for these types of conversations. Be honest, but do not give out any personal information you would not want strangers to know, such as phone numbers and addresses, personal financial info, and social security numbers. Also, do not get frustrated if the individual on the other end does not respond immediately to your words - he or she may be in the middle of something and may be away from the computer for moments at a time.