Here are some guidelines for conducting safe and healthy chats:

• Many people in chat groups are totally dishonest about who they are. They lie about their occupation, age, locality, and, yes, even gender.Some think that they’re being cute, and others are exploring their own fantasies; a few are really sick.
• Be careful about giving out information that enables someone to find you personally, including phone numbers, mailing address, and the schools that your kids attend.
• Pick a screen name or handle that’s different from your login name; otherwise, you will receive a great deal of unwanted junk e-mail.
• Never give out your password to anyone, even if she says that she works for your service provider, the phone company, the FBI, the CIA, or Dummies Press. Never!
• If your chat service offers profiles and a person without a profile wants to chat with you, be extra cautious.
• If your children use chat, realize that others may try to meet them. Before your kids log on, spend some quality time talking to them about the guidelines.