The Pros and Cons of Three Types of Online Communities- Chat Rooms, Social Network Sites, and Online Classrooms

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An online community is a network of people who come together and communicate online, usually because of a common interest or goal. There are many different types of online communities. Some examples of online communities are: email distribution lists, message boards and newsgroups, instant message (IM) services, chat rooms, blogging sites, social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook, and online classrooms/school groups. I intend to discuss three of these types of online communities – chat rooms, social network sites, and online classrooms/school groups – and look into the pros and cons of using each of these.

First, I will talk about internet chat rooms. A chat room is a site where users can talk live to other users. Users are online at the same time and can “chat” back and forth. This is called “synchronous” communication. Some of the pros to using this type of online community would be that you can complete a discussion or subject faster than if you were emailing back and forth. With email, you have to wait for the other person to check his/her email and respond. When you are chatting in a chat room, it is just like if you were talking face to face. Online chat rooms can also be a wonderful way to meet new people. This can be a pro as well as a con. Chat rooms can be potentially dangerous, especially to teens and young children who do not understand or believe the dangers. You have no way of really knowing if the person you are chatting with is really who they say they are. This is why private chat rooms can be safer. In a private chat room, people are invited to join.

Another pro of chat rooms is that it can be very entertaining. It has become a very popular pastime for many young people. Someti...

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...y. I think that you have to consider the pros and cons of each type of online community and take the necessary precautions when using them. Just as you would if you were “face to face” or “in person” with someone, you have to be careful who you trust. You must be careful who you give information to. Online communities can be a wonderful way to interact with people. They can be a great way to make new friends and reconnect with old ones. They can be helpful and efficient. They can save you time, money, and effort. I think that when using online communities, good judgment is your best defense and the best way to have a positive experience with them.

Works Cited

www.articlebase.com

www.education-portal.com

www.squidoo.com

Stacey Barrett, Catrina Poe, & Carrie Spagnola-Doyle:

Power Up; A Practical Student’s Guide to Online Learning

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