These activities can be fun AND safe if your kids know how to behave responsibly. Most people online are nice and honest people just like most of your neighbors. But, just like the real world, a few persons are not trustworthy and can abuse what they learn about you and your child. You can exchange messages for all to read or privately between two persons. The results can be boring, silly, fun, exciting, stupid, confusing, or strange.
Some people love it, some people hate it.
Whether you enjoy it or not depends on you and the relationship you build with the people you meet. Chat room participation should be the most closely monitored of all internet activities. Whether your child goes into chat rooms should depend on your comfort level and ability to monitor your child, what kinds of chat rooms your child wishes to visit and why, and your child's own personality and predispositions. Chat rooms access should not be ruled out absolutely, because they can provide some invaluable experiences and opportunities, especially those that exist for a purpose other than casual chat. Kids can find places where they can get homework help, where they can get help with computer problems, where they can discuss special interests and hobbies, where they can play interactive games, and where they can meet well-known guests and experts who are invited to answer questions and talk.