|
AIM/Web Chat is not intended for
use by individuals under the age of 13.
We encourage you to be responsible and to respect our community as well
as others participating within the community. Your conduct should be guided
by common sense, basic "netiquette", and these chat guidelines.
We discourage any of the following activity that:
- Repeatedly uses language inconsistent
with the community standards of the area from which the chat originated.
- Impedes or otherwise prohibits
communication; disrupts the discussion including, without limitation,
using screen names in topical chats that are offensive to the topic
and repeatedly posting off-topic comments in a topical chat.
- Contains highly explicit or graphic
descriptions or accounts of sexual acts, including but not limited to
sexual language of a violent or threatening nature, directed at another
individual or group of individuals, particularly when unsolicited.
- Contains vulgarities directed
toward another individual or group.
- Depicts violence in a gratuitous
manner, without journalistic or artistic merit, primarily intended to
agitate or cause emotional distress.
- Is intended to victimize, harass,
degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals on the basis
of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, race, religion or sexual orientation.
Hate speech is unacceptable anywhere on the service.
- Solicits personal information
from a minor (under 18 years old). Personal information includes full
name, home address, home telephone number, or other identifying information
that would enable "offline" contact.
- Contains or facilitates the transfer
of software viruses or any other computer code, files or programs designed
to interrupt, destroy or limit the functionality of any computer software
or hardware or telecommunications equipment.
- Contains material that defames,
abuses, threatens, promotes, or instigates physical harm or death to
others, or oneself.
- Is illegal or incites illegal
activity, such as instructional information on how to build a bomb and/or
make counterfeit money.
- Solicits for exchange, sale or
purchase of sexually explicit images, and/or material harmful to minors;
including, but not limited to, any photograph, film, video, or picture
or computer generated image or picture (actual or simulated).
- Infringes anyone else's intellectual
property rights, including, but not limited to, any copyright, trademark,
rights of publicity, rights of privacy, or other proprietary rights.
- Attempts to harvest or collect
member information, including screen names.
- Impersonates or represents any
person or entity in an attempt to deceive, harass or otherwise mislead
another member. You may not pretend to be an employee or representative
of AOL, or any of the America Online, Inc. family of companies, or affiliates.
- Attempts to get a password, or
other private information from a user. Remember: AOL employees will
NEVER ask for your password.
- Links to and/or references content
not allowed under these guidelines.
- Otherwise uses the service in
a manner deemed inappropriate by AOL.
Note:
It is important to remember safety while online. Always use caution when
providing any personal information about yourself anywhere online. It's
also a good rule-of-thumb to check the Privacy Policies of any unfamiliar
or new web sites you visit. When communicating in a chat room be mindful
that many people will be able to view it and the inclusion of information
such as your name, your address or telephone number is never recommended.
Take advantage of AIM's IGNORE feature.
AIM Chat is provided with an Ignore button. To stop receiving messages
from someone in a chat room, select the person's screen name in the field
that lists everyone in the chat room and click Ignore. An X appears next
to the selected screen name and their text will no longer appear on your
screen. You might also consider using blocking or filtering software for
chat environments like AIM chat, and instant messaging, available through
sites like www.getnetwise.org.
|
