Falcone, C. (1997). Youth and chat rooms. S. Hamilton, MA: Center for Youth Studies.

OVERVIEW

The Internet phenomenon has developed in the last few years, to become much more than an information database, news authority, or file transfer system. For many who have access to the Internet via a service provider (America Online, Microsoft Network, Compuserve, Prodigy, Media One, Eerols, Flashnet, as well as through public access in colleges and schools), it has become a habit of cultural expression. The online community has become a real and significant place for experimentation and self-discovery through the popularity of chat rooms and chat capabilities. Youth, particularly, have discovered the entertainment and interactive value of these capabilities. Consider these capabilities:

HMTL-based chat rooms. (AOL, MSN chat, and "site-located chat rooms" found through links on web pages and follow a controlled thematic content.) This is the most conventional and anonymous way to communicate online.

Comic Chat. This chat program illustrates conversations with cartoon figures and backgrounds. The comic figures show varieties of expression when they talk to each other. This provides a humorous and safe way to communicate to others online. Another variety of this is Virtual Chat, where users can enter a 3D world and communicate with various people in a room individually, creating a "virtual party."

ICQ and Friend Finder. This extremely popular tool allows users to discover when their friends are online, so that they can contact them for a conversation. Users can give out their ICQ number to others if they are friends, so that they can continue to have private conversations. This is considered more personal communication.

Netmeeting 2.0. This provides live one-on-one communication through the Internet, using a microphone and/or an Internet camera (See-u-See-me, or Quickcam). This is the most personal type of communication. Friends may establish a netmeeting as a cheaper alternative to long-distance phone calls. Developing technology has allowed faster throughput, creating a more audible conversation and smoother video output. Expense has kept this from being a popular option.

Newsgroups. Popular for their ease in "posting" notes, letters, and pictures in a colorful HMTL format, its look and use combines the richness of the Web with email.

Email. Widespread, but snubbed by heavy Internet users for being too slow and not integrated to their normal Internet experience.

Shorthand language is popular in chat rooms, to match their relaxed attitudes. Chatters use lingo to identify themselves as part of the group and to seek acceptance. There are several popular expressions:

A/S?. This establishes the two most important pieces of information in order to talk to others, their age and gender. Normally, the chat room host will ask this to new chatters.

J/K (Just kidding). Much of chat room dialog is joking around, providing relief and acceptance. Joking with one another is usually the first step in pursuing a conversation. The symbol ":)" is used also to illustrate a non-threatening attitude.

LOL (Laugh out loud). A popular expression that indicates approval of others during a conversation. It is easy to type and requires no explanation.

ROFL (Rolling on the floor). This abbreviation indicates a positive regard that the chatter may have with his guest. Has a slightly stronger meaning.

Sociologists and psychologists have debated over the harmfulness of the increase of Internet use among users. The central question is over the nature of the new socialization, does it foster increased self awareness or does it create a personal addiction as seen with alcohol or gambling?

Young argues that it is addiction (Henry, T. Techno-Kids Can’t Live Without Their Computers), on a three-year survey. Young’s work is still in process of being recognized by the professional world, it will take a decade more to recognize the formal research. She argues on several grounds for this position:

• Addictions, in general, are based on the pursuit of pleasure seeking behavior. Of 396 Internet addicts studied, they spend average weekly online time of 38 hours or more.
• Fantasy games and chat rooms are exciting. It beats real life, and tempts people from not working.
• The Internet is not being used the way it was intended, for information gathering.
• It allows people to create new relationships and abandon marriages.
• Employers and schools have not been responsible in teaching people how to use the Internet. They should figure out good policies for use, not just punish for the abuse of Internet privileges.

This view is gaining popularity among psychologists. The American Psychological Convention released a report on August 14, 1997 (http://www.nua.com) which revealed that Internet users are more likely to go online in search of social entertainment, as opposed looking for information. The study was based on 396 Internet users, dispersed internationally. Twenty percent more women than men responded and half of the respondents were without permanent paying jobs. Eight percent held high-tech jobs in fields such as computer programming, system analysis, or engineering. Thirty-five percent of those surveyed used chat rooms and twenty-eight percent said they participated in interactive on-line fantasy games. The report, "Internet Addiction: What Makes Computer-Mediated Communication Habit Forming," revealed that "pathological Internet users" were logging on in a bid to create another persona.

While Young’s approach is intervention, sociologist Sherry Turkle (Judge, P.C. Is the Net Redefining our Identity?), is more optimistic about how Internet interaction may be a positive learning activity. Turkle notices four trends developing in Internet identity:

Multiple selves. There is experimentation in new personalities and in sexuality. Many are using the Internet for online sex, or "tinysex," and many men are developing an online female persona. Turkle notices new kinds of social behaviors on the Internet (seductions, gender swapping, democratic uprisings, virtual rape).

Soft mastery. This is considered sexual discrimination and collaboration against women that occurs on the Internet. Still, women are increasingly being involved on the Internet, as AOL female membership increased from 18% to 45% in two years. Turkle notes, "women use the Internet more as a harpsichord rather than a hammer."

Global to local. A trend in Internet use is that it ironically leads people back to local communities and resources.

Bricolage (tinkering). This is the blending of virtual identity and real life, the activity of most Internet users who are children. According to Turkle, "Children from the earliest age have been teaching themselves to make the most of life on the screen." Youth have demonstrated new patterns of thinking by piecing together scattered information from the Internet. Turkle notes that children will probably buy more, work more, and socialize more in the virtual world.

Turkle’s approach is to notice range of behavior, not frequency. She believes that Internet addiction is less common than many believe. Nielson Reports (http://www.nua.com) define use categorically: "heavy users" access the Internet on a daily basis; "frequent users" access the Internet weekly, but less often than "heavy users"; and "casual users" access the Internet an average of less than once a week. "Heavy users" represent 35% of the Canadian Internet population, aged 18 and older. "Frequent users" account for 34% of Internet users. "Casual users" represent 31%.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

MAGAZINES

• Henry, T. (1997, April 24). Techno-kids can’t live without their computers. USA Today, pp. E1, C1.
• Nash, K.S. (1997, October 6). Q: Is the internet addictive? Computerworld, 31(40), 45.
• Judge, P.C. (1997, April 12). Is the net redefining our identity? Business Week, p. 100.
• Miller, L. (1995, August 28). For on-line users, connection is empowerment. USA Today, p. 10A.

IMPORTANT INTERNET RESEARCH   

Nua.com

- A company involved in Internet surveys from many research groups to analyze contemporary cultural trends and how they may be exploited for economic benefit.

 

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

• Is the Internet useful to you and/or provide relief? What about chat capabilities?
• Does the Internet allow users to experiment and challenge themselves usefully and productively?
• How important is it to be "plugged into" the Internet? Explain.
• How is this new trend affecting student behavior and studies?

 

IMPLICATIONS

• Young people desire express themselves in any way they know how. Often, youth turn from traditional cultural expression to create their own ways of communicating their thoughts, ideas, and identities.
• Experimentation can be positive, as youth continue to develop relational skills and direct their energies in healthy, productive ways. However, young people also need and appreciate limits. Strive to achieve the balance.
• Youth workers can effectively address typical youth activities through discussions, games, and skits.

Chip Falcone cCYS