chatrooms
Virtual conversation spaces
Chatrooms are online spaces where multiple users exchange text messages in real time.
Popular in the 1990s and early 2000s, they allowed strangers to gather around shared interests—I met my husband in an AOL chatroom.
The format has largely given way to social media and messaging apps, though chatrooms persist in gaming platforms and specialized communities.
Also spelled as two words: chat rooms.
Text-based chat protocol
- discordLack of agreement
- forumsVenues for collective discourse
- slackAbsence of tautness
- AOLEarly internet provider
ICQ · Yahoo · MSN · webchat · jabber · BBS · channels · servers
Exchange of ideas
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- messagingSending written digital communications
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
threads · topics · scrollback · logs · typing · response · reply · banter
Gathering place for discourse
- membersPeople in an organization
- groupAssembled collection of things
- moderatorsThose regulating discussions
- regularsHabitual visitors
lurkers · admins · channel · participants · usernames · handles · nicknames · banning
Digital or divine incarnations
- cyberspaceVirtual electronic network environment
- handlesGrasping parts or manages
- anonymityUnknown identity state
- identityWho someone is
presence · status · away · idle · invisible · emotes · emoticons · emoji
IRC
Text-based chat protocol
AOL · ICQ · Yahoo · MSN · webchat · jabber · BBS · channels · servers · clients
discussion
Exchange of ideas
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- messagingSending written digital communications
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
discourse · threads · topics · scrollback · logs · typing · response · reply · banter · flaming
forum
Gathering place for discourse
- membersPeople in an organization
- groupAssembled collection of things
- moderatorsThose regulating discussions
regulars · lurkers · admins · channel · participants · usernames · handles · nicknames · banning · kicks
avatars
Digital or divine incarnations
- cyberspaceVirtual electronic network environment
- handlesGrasping parts or manages
- anonymityUnknown identity state
identity · presence · status · away · idle · invisible · emotes · emoticons · emoji · reactions
connections
Relationships between things
- contactsPeople you know professionally
- meetupsArranged social gatherings
- datingPursuing romantic connections
introductions · icebreakers · whispers · invites · friending · blocking · muting · ignoring · profiles · interests
- online spaceswebsite, websites, webpage, web pages, web page
- forumsforums, community forums, online forums, discussion groups, public forums
- chat roomschannels, IRC, lobby, group chats, instant messaging
- internetinternet, websites, web, browsers, web browsers
- EdTech toolssmartboards, tablets, laptops, online quizzes, LMS
chatroomsvideo calls
Live audiovisual communication
in-person meetings · phone calls · video conferencing · live video · teleconferencing
chatroomstown squares
Central public open areas
coffee shops · living rooms · in-person meetings · pubs · community centers