A few moments later, users see a list of anyone else that is also logged on in the chat room and running the software, and everyone can then engage in an entirely private chat session. Some organizations use a chat room to make a major announcement to volunteers, then giving them the opportunity to provide immediate feedback and ask questions that can be immediately answered. An agency could use a chat to introduce a new member to others in the group and allow them to interact in a more lively, interactive way than, say, an e-mail list. Many organizations have asked the VV Project about holding online board meetings via live chats. Check with your state attorney general office for more information.
Chats are particularly popular among young people.
The culture of a chat is fast, with short comments coming in quickly and constant. Chats often require that all users have the same software or operating systems. Chats also require that participants have a good understanding of how the technology works, and a high comfort level in using it. Having 100 people on a chat, however, can become overwhelming, because most of the participants will engage in conversation, so consideration needs to be made in how many participants are ideal for your chat situation. A new participant might feel uncomfortable by this.