These messages appear, at the same time as they are typed, on the screens of one or more other computers around the world. Virtual areas where people Web chat are often called 'chat rooms' and different chat rooms will have different subjects, focuses or titles. Web chat also develops communities of people who have similar interests or who like each other. Web chat enables people to pretend to be other than they really are and create alternative identities. Although chat can occur amongst a group, conversations can also occur in real time between two people in a virtual 'private room'.
Web chat does have serious applications.
It can be useful for some business communications, such as conferencing or brainstorming ideas. And it is certainly a useful tool for the hearing impaired. Educational applications for IRC Web chat also has educational applications. It enables 'real time' tutorials to take place. Students can interact with each other and with their tutor.