no it isn't. There are predetors out there waiting to pounce!
The Great News
In well-monitored chat rooms you can meet people from around the world who share your interests in a safe and non-harassing environment.
You can communicate directly with people you might not otherwise be in touch with: teachers, community leaders, or experts.
You can participate in an online community where you're not judged based on how you look.
The Not So Great News
Chat room discussions may become sexual or violent, or they may promote hate against others.
Because some people feel totally anonymous in chat rooms, they believe they can act any way they want. Girls in particular may receive crude or sexual comments.
Chat rooms are cruising grounds for pedophiles and other predators who want to make contact with young people. Because kids feel anonymous when chatting online they are more likely to speak honestly and conversations can quickly become intimate.
Online relationships with strangers in chat rooms can lead to you being cyberstalked, sent pornography, or pressured to arrange a real-world meeting.
You could become involved in risk-taking activities. Some older kids deliberately participate in online flirting or sexual chat.
Chat room participants can end up hurting others. "Flaming," where you make personal insults or disrespect a person, is common in chat rooms.
Some Quick Facts
Over half of 11-12-year-olds visit chat rooms and one-third of those kids visit private or adult chat areas.
Three-quarters of kids ages 13-14 visit chat rooms, with half those kids visiting private or adult chat areas.
More than four in ten youth say they have met someone new on the Internet who asked for information, such as their photo, phone number, street address or school.
15% of youth have met an Internet friend in person. Most took a friend or went alone.
12% of those who met an Internet friend in person said it was a "bad experience."
(Source: Media Awareness Network, Young Canadians In A Wired World, 2001)