Chatrooms are online spaces where people communicate with one another via text, mostly in synchronous (at the same time) but also in asynchronous ways (at different times). Chatrooms can be anything from real-time online chat forums to fully immersive graphic virtual worlds. They may contain just a few individuals or thousands of people. People generally gather with a shared interest: for example, (a) particular topics, (b) relationships, or (c) shared endeavors like playing games or designing. Typically, communication in chatrooms is text based, but technology now allows webcams (live video) and gestures as embodied by avatars (2D or 3D representations of people). This entry further discusses the different types of chatrooms, their affordances for learning, and the social and legal issues they raise, including concerns ...

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