Advantages of online chat:
You know new people.
You exchange views on some issues.
You can relax because you don't have to see that person with your own eyes.
If you are shy, this is a way to make friends.
You can treat some special friends like pen pals, but you are chatting instead of writing letters as you did 20 years ago.
Disadvantages of online chat:
You never know who you're talking to. Maybe it's an older man. He's a pervert and acts like a young man.
You can trust this person and say your full name; Address; E-mail addy your phone/mobile phone number. This is very dangerous! Don't tell me anything when it comes to your identity.
You may think that you are in love with the person you are chatting with, but you may live thousands of miles away, and long-distance relationships rarely succeed.
If you are shy, you are more likely to be hurt by people on the internet, and you may inadvertently provide them with too much information, which may be bad for you and bring you countless problems.
Internet tracking is at its peak, especially among teenagers. This means that a group of children (just for fun) find fault with someone, which is really out of control. There are threats (if they live in the same area, these teenagers usually take action against their threats. )
Cyberbullying is another problem. This is when one, two or more teenagers find fault with another teenager and keep scolding them. Because they are young and stupid, they don't realize what they have done, and the suicide rate related to this is rising rapidly.
Note: Canadian police have a special task force, disguised as teenagers, to catch perverted men who follow young people. This succeeded in arresting these criminals. Cyberstalking or cyberbullying is a crime here!