The chat room is a cyber space that serves as a platform for Internet users to interact with each other. It uses a text-based mode of communication. Technological advancement and faster internet connections have made voice calls and video conferencing via webcams possible. The webcam chat feature has fueled the interest in chatting among users. Many online chat sites offer 24/7 live video streaming for free. Cam chats have given online chatting a new meaning and made it livelier. High-quality video webcams have reduced the distance between people. The video chat provided by most of the sites is completely free and secure. Using the webcam in chat rooms is not as complicated as it seems.
One needs to connect the webcam with the computer system and log in to a chat site. Care must be taken to ensure that one’s video is shared only with the users one wants. Public chat sites have the option to stream the user’s video so that any member logged into the chat room can view the video. To avoid undue embarrassment or scandal, it’s best to make sure your video is visible only to users you authorize. Video chat is also very popular on online dating sites. The use of web cameras has further reduced the apparent difference between the real world and the cyber world.
Since the days of text-based instant messaging, the concept of cybersex has evolved. Most of the online chat sites are used by various netizens for erotic chats. It has raised concerns about the negative influence this could have on adolescents. Since most of these chat rooms are free, there is no way to guarantee that those accessing the site are over 18 years of age. The use of web cameras has taken the concept of cybersex to the next level. Previously, with a text-based system, this was limited only to users with a proactive imagination. With streaming video leaving little to the imagination, the number of people indulging in such activities has expanded. Broadcasting live erotic videos through advertising in chat rooms has become a kind of white-collar prostitution.
In an era before webcams, many users with fake profiles roamed chat rooms lying about their gender, age, and physical attributes. It was a time when the only way to ensure that the user on the other end was not a cheater was to meet in person. Web cameras have removed that element of surprise. They have made the chat service more secure. As the virtual cyber world becomes more and more real, the arguments against using online chat services are getting weaker. Web cameras have provided the one thing that text-based rooms could not provide. The ability to see the person you’re chatting with, making everything seem more real.