They are wonderful places for children to share interests, develop new friendships, and learn new things. The value of this experience is probably directly related to offline, open discussions with family and friends about the people, things, and information. Chat Rooms have earned a bad reputation as a result of their misuse by both children and predators. Unmonitored, either online or offline, chat sessions can turn nasty. Common misinformation or prejudice can be passed on as truth.
Participants can misrepresent themselves.
Children can come in contact with adults seeking to take advantage of them. Most frightening is the sometime-presence of pedophiles attempting to develop relationships with unsuspecting young people. Honest participants and peers will welcome this restriction. When done appropriately, these opportunities could lead to new, close friendships. If your child has a personal e-mail account, or uses yours, be sure to monitor incoming mail for appropriate content.