Initially, online chat sites were sold as places where people could meet friends online without the barriers associated with traditional forms of communication, such as distance. However, as these free chat rooms become popular, people are getting more and more creative about what they do when they are in these chat rooms. These activities aim to make chat rooms more enjoyable and ensure member experiences are memorable. Online friendship has become a somewhat abstract and common place and more and more people are looking to enjoy these chat rooms more. Some examples of the many functions that chat sites perform are discussed below.
These chat rooms offer platforms for game enthusiasts to challenge each other in friendly duels. For example, an online chat room for chess lovers may often involve hosting chess tournaments for members. These activities aim to make the means of chatting more productive, interactive and beneficial for members. In addition to making friends, these rooms create active interaction forums for people who share the same hobbies, interests or ideologies, among other things.
Educational institutions and intellectuals are increasingly using free online chat sites to foster academic and philosophical debates on important issues in the contemporary world. Such sites may be liked by ancient Greek schools where scholars could meet and discuss important issues. The relationship here can be described as acquaintance, as it does not always involve intimate interactions. Rather, these websites are platforms for discussion of important matters that friendly chatter is often ignored or minimized.
Modern religious organizations are also taking advantage of free online chat sites to promote spiritual growth among members through discussion of common challenges members face. This is after realizing that a one-day-a-week meeting is not enough to promote effective spiritual growth among members. In this perspective, these rooms act as churches where members can expect to be spiritually nurtured in addition to enjoying digital friendship.
These examples reveal how creativity and necessity have revolutionized chat sites to offer virtual places where people can make friends digitally. These sites have transformed into digital communities characterized by unique interests, perceptions, and beliefs. The traditional small talk that characterized these sites is rapidly being replaced by substantive and productive conversations on various topics of interest dictated by the rules of the respective chat rooms.
