Are chat rooms safe?

TEENY

I was in a chat room yappin away when someone tried to pm me using a name i thought was familiar could they know who i was? or was it just a coincidence? I didn't answer them coz i didn't know wot to do. I was under the impression that no one knew who you were in chat rooms

Fran

Do you mean they started to use your name? Did you give something away in the chat that they could have guessed who you are?

TEENY

no they used thier own name when trying to pm me i have never contacted this person tho. do you reckon it was just a coincidence. the only place my name etc was used was when i registered

KeithP

Teeny, it is sometimes possible, depending on who runs the chatroom and its software, for users to view each others profile. Some times this is restricted to a few fields, sometimes it is not possible at all.
In view of the above, it is probably a good idea to use totally fictitious information when registering for these things (except an email address which should be a disposable one).
Everyone else lies in chat rooms, so why not you?

TEENY

v. bulletin run it but i will change everything now thanks

robt_2

If vbulletin run it, I would imagine the chatroom is connected to a forum site? If so, you will have a profile on there which is visible anyway?

Reluctant_spender

The CEOP's Website offers very good advice in relation to internet safety

Not sure of your level of expertise - https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/

Offers advice according to age and if you are a parent/carer or teacher

totalsolutions

Err if everyone lies in chat rooms why do you go there, for what? Good honest info, or its just a girly thing when your daily txt message limit runs out or the b/friend is on your mobile? hehe