5.1 Safe practice relating to the use of ICT for communication

Table of Contents

1. Using ICT for communication
   1. Electronic mail
   2. Setting up e-mail accounts
   3. Free e-mail services
   4. Sending and receiving e-mails
   5. Using attached files
   6. Size of attached files
   7. Using zipped files
   8. Virus checking
   9. Implementing virus checking
   10. Anti-virus software
   11. Managing e-mails
   12. E-mail folders
   13. Combating Spam
   14. E-mail etiquette
   15. Netiquette
   16. Using news groups
   17. E-mailing multiple recipients
   18. Closing an e-mail account
   19. Using chat rooms
   20. Acceptable practice in chat rooms
   21. More about chat rooms
   22. Secure servers
   23. Scanning and saving images

Using chat rooms

Chat rooms are virtual social spaces on the Internet, where users can communicate with each other. Chat rooms are extremely popular because of their unedited and instantaneous nature. Some chat rooms are used simply for entertainment purposes, perhaps based around a topic such as discussing a daily television soap opera. Others may be used for more serious discussions.

As with most of the Internet, younger clients are often very savvy with the technology and are keen on using chat rooms to communicate with others of the same age and with similar interests. It is easy to see the attraction for young people of being able to access this 'secret' world of anonymous communication where their parents cannot see what they are doing and in principle no holds are barred regarding 'bad' language.

You should be able to inform clients about Acceptable practice in chat rooms ...