Group and private chatrooms can be highly informative and fun ways to get to know other members in an online community. Depending on the purpose of the chat, both options have their perks.
It is helpful to have the option of transitioning from a group chat to a one-on-one private chatroom when the need arises. Private chats generally allow for more focused conversations. They also are a great way for two people to get to know each other more quickly.
Group Chat Dynamics
Within a group chat, the dynamic can be energetic and fun. They allow for a high level of information sharing. Typically a diverse group of people participates in a group chat. The resulting conversation can be very interesting, with multiple different perspectives and points of view.
Many different websites and online communities take advantage of group chat rooms.
Dating websites immediately come to mind, as chat rooms are an ideal way for people to get to know the other members on the website. Some dating websites may have a special group chat events to encourage singles to talk to each other in a low-stress group chat environment.
Educational websites and companies also utilize group chats. For students who are enrolled in online courses, they may be required to log on to a scheduled group chat to talk to other students and professors about course content. The group chat could act as a platform in which to replicate in-classroom discussions.
Many other online communities also use group chats for a variety of different purposes. Group chats definitely serve a purpose, but sometimes it may be necessary to transition into a private chatroom.
Turning a Group Chat into a Private Chatroom
While group chats are great to get to know a large group of people or quickly share information with a community, private chats offer a number of benefits as well.
Private chats are more focused. It is much easier to connect with one other user in a private chat, as it is a one-on-one dynamic. They allow both users to get their questions answered and responses heard. In a group chat, some of this may have gotten lost in the crowd.
When would you want to use a private chat?
Well, let’s look at the examples above.
In a dating website, private chatrooms are obviously important. In a group chat, two people may notice they have a connection. They have the option of entering into a private chat room with each other. This allows them to continue talking without the rest of the group chat members. Private chats often allow users to upload photos and documents. This could be helpful in a dating setting, so that each user could know what the other looked like.
In an online classroom, the private chat option is also very helpful. If a student is struggling to understand a concept, they could go into a private chat with the professor. This allows the other students to move on while the student in need can get the help they require. In a private chat, the professor could send step-by-step images of how to solve a problem. This could be remarkably helpful.
Other websites use private chatrooms too. A website administrator may have an issue to discuss with a particular user. They could go into a private chat room with that user.
In another scenario, a website visitor may have a question about website content. They have the option of asking a website expert that question in a private chat. For example, in a website that dealt with the stock market, a new investor may have a question about what to invest in. Starting a private chat with a resident expert could be very helpful.
Beyond Private Chatrooms – The Live Call
After moving from a group chat to a private chat, users may still want to connect further with whomever they are speaking to. They could do this by initiating a live call within the chatroom.
Some private chatrooms, like Rumbletalk, allow for users to place calls through the chatroom. This could mean either audio calls or video calls. In some cases, maybe both!
Being able to see who you are speaking to, or at least hear their voice, can make a big difference when talking to someone.
In a dating scenario, moving from a private chatroom to live or audio call could potentially be a big step. It could help you know whether or not you are interested in continuing to pursue a relationship.
In an online classroom, it could potentially be much easier for a professor to explain a concept to a student using a live call. Imagine trying to solve a complex math problem or trying to understand a complicated physics theory. While this could be done in a private chatroom format, it would likely be much easier over a live call.