New to Chat & Community?

Using chat rooms, message boards and instant messaging can seem daunting the first time, but stick with it - it's worth it! It's fast, it's fun and it can enable you to make new friends all over the world.

To find out how chat really works, it's best to spend some quality time in a chat room or on a message board asking for help from other people. Here are some other tips to help you get started.

- Search: Chat help
- Search: Netiquette

Try the new members lobby first
This chat room is especially for AOL access customers whose AOL accounts are less than 60 days old. If you've been an AOL subscriber for longer than that, we have plenty of other chat rooms for every interest and age group.

Watch before joining in
It may look like a foreign language at first, but keep watching. You'll soon see that there are a few conversations taking place. When you see one that interests you, feel free to join in!

Try asking a question
Find out if anyone in the chat room or message board shares your hobbies or occupation. Ask if anyone knows of a website with information on your favourite band. Even if you know the answer, you'll have struck up a conversation!

Get noticed without being disruptive
Choose from the list of fonts and text colours to make yourself stand out. Don't type in ALL CAPS though, it's considered to be SHOUTING and ANNOYS OTHER MEMBERS!

Follow the rules
The aim of Chat & Community is for everyone to have fun. People who deliberately set out to ruin the chat experience of others, or to harass and offend them, can have their chat privileges removed and even lose their AOL accounts. Make sure you follow the community standards and be careful out there!

Chat to community leaders
You'll recognise them by their screen names prefixed with 'UKLeader'. They are AOL members who volunteer their time to help others online. They've been members of the AOL community for at least four months (in some cases, more than five years), and are AOL experts. They're very friendly and like nothing better than to help 'newbies' find their way around.

- More Chat & Community help