A Deep Dive: The Disadvantages Of Online Anonymous Chat Rooms

Are there any benefits to anonymous chat rooms?

Chatting online with strangers can provide a unique sense of connectedness between people with common interests. Anonymous chatting lets you express your personality and opinions outside of your personal life, which may lessen your worries about being judged for your ideas.  

Using chat rooms anonymously can also give you more control over managing your time, as others may not know how to contact you or chat without your consent. This benefit can be practical if you’re not looking to form friendships or have frequent back-and-forth conversations. 

Participating in international chat rooms allows you to meet others to chat with from around the globe, letting you learn more about unique cultures, languages, and concepts. Some of these services are free, benefiting those looking for a cost-effective alternative to international calling or visiting another location before you understand their customs. 

The disadvantages of anonymous chat rooms

While anonymous chat rooms can provide a place to connect with others, there are a few potential disadvantages and safety concerns to remember when signing up for one. 

Miscommunication and a lack of anonymity 

Your words may have less meaning without your tone and inflection, which makes them subject to misinterpretation. You may have the opportunity to clarify later if you fear you’ve been misunderstood, but what you say online may stay online and can be quickly discussed by others with screenshots and screen recordings posted on various platforms. 

Discussing of messages can occur outside of anonymous chatrooms. Unless you’re using a VPN and other precautions, no site is fully “anonymous,” as people can pull your IP information and learn information about you, sometimes including your name, home address, and phone number. If you don’t want to be misunderstood, be careful what you say to others online, and don’t put any personal details in your messages or biography page. 

Understanding current texting and messaging abbreviations can also help you reduce the chances of a misunderstanding. Online language changes yearly, often among younger generations. Using outdated language from the 90s or early 2000s might not connect with others online. You can also double-check the meanings of emojis, which might be different based on your age group. 

Unkind chat participants 

Some people think the perceived unknownness of an online chat gives them the ability to say what they want to others to the point they participate in bullying or being unkind and vulgar in an online chat. Calling people names when you’re upset online might feel easy, but it’s not necessarily safe. Be the person you would be in person when you’re chatting online. If someone tries to argue with or insult you, ignore their messages and log back in later when they’re not present. 

Note that there is still a live person on the other end of online communications, whether anonymous or not. “Netiquette” refers to online etiquette — the rules to follow to ensure a society in which people can be treated with politeness and respect online. Try not to write something you wouldn’t say to someone in public.  

Technical challenges 

Technical challenges may arise online and in anonymous chats. A disconnection during a chat might be frustrating if you can’t connect with the people in the chat once you return. In addition, if you’re unfamiliar with technology, you might make a few mistakes while chatting or end up on an unsafe website. To lessen the chances of this risk, consider taking an internet safety course. 

Suspicious and unsafe chatters 

While in an anonymous chat room, you might read the screen names of the other participants to get a feel for who they are in their real life. However, apart from these names and what the person tells you about themselves, it’s often difficult to know whether they are who they say they are or have malicious intentions. Some people use anonymous chats to discuss illegal or unsafe activities without their identity being known. They may understand how to use software on their device to ensure their IP address and information are hidden. 

Advances in how people communicate have led to terminology for anonymous chat rooms and people who chat online. “Catfishers” are people who fake their names, photos, or identities to appear as a different person to lure someone into a relationship or connection. They might use anonymous chatrooms to avoid needing a complete social media profile. Awareness of these individuals can be essential if you seek friendships or a relationship online. 

People who join anonymous chat rooms to harm others, hack the chat, or cause distress are often called “trolls” within online community spaces. Trolls may use chats to get a rise out of others. They can also send photos, gifs, or stickers that are inappropriate or distressing for other chatters to see. Be aware of these individuals if the chat you’re joining doesn’t have moderators filtering trolls out. 

Note that people with criminal intentions can also join online chats and may do so to participate in online criminal activity. Do your research about the theme of a chat before joining, and look at the topics being discussed within. If you notice cybercrime occurring, you can report this crime on the FBI’s cybercrime report tool.

A lack of safety 

Use safe internet habits when using an anonymous chat room. Using an anonymous name doesn’t necessarily safeguard your identity, and “hackers” aren’t rare. Many people can find the information of another person online quickly and tell it with others. If you’re trying to hide your identity, talking about it online may not be the safest choice. A few other online safety tips can include the following: 

• Don’t send online payments to someone you don’t know, and don’t use money transfer apps like Zelle and Cashapp, as they don’t offer refunds for scams 
• Don’t send pictures of yourself you don’t want to see in other areas online
• Don’t send pictures of your children to strangers
• Don’t give information about your hometown, state, or address online
• Avoid entering links sent to you by someone you don’t know 
• Don’t download files sent to you by someone you don’t know 
• Don’t open spam email links and files
• If someone threatens you, close the chat instead of going through with their demands 

Internet addiction 

If you like to chat online, anonymous chat rooms can be fun. However, while chatting can provide a welcome release, it can be problematic if it becomes excessive.

If your work, home, or offline responsibilities are being neglected because you struggle to leave chat rooms, consider discussing the possibility of internet addiction with your provider. This type of addiction may occur when you spend more time in random anonymous chat rooms than you do managing your offline life, feeling a compulsive urge to check in with these chats instead of focusing on your primary duties. 

Support options 

People with internet dependency or social anxiety stemming from online chat use might benefit from counseling if their online behaviors negatively impact their daily life. Motivational interviewing (MI) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) are often recommended in these cases. MI therapy has been found beneficial in helping individuals reduce symptoms of addiction, anxiety, and depression. CBT for internet addiction (CBT-IA) has also been proven effective, helping clients gradually reduce their internet usage by reframing thought processes and finding healthier online behaviors.   

Some people with internet addiction, social anxiety, or other mental health conditions prefer speaking to a therapist online, as it may offer relief similar to the relief they get from an online chat. However, unlike some online chats, online therapy is safe, controlled, and involves a conversation with a licensed professional. Online therapy platforms like BetterHelp allow individuals to choose between phone, video, or live chat therapy. As you cope with your symptoms, an online therapist can offer guidance and help you learn healthier chatting habits. 

In addition to these benefits, online therapy has been proven to offer chances for valuable behavioral changes in people experiencing addiction, with sustained long-term impacts. Because online therapy can be conducted through chat, it can be a natural way for people addicted to chatrooms to start the therapy process, working their way into other forms of connection.