Listen Up! If you want to be cool on the internet, here are some very valuable tips! So read up and listen well, and I'll show you how to survive the internet and make cool connections. After all, you don't want people to think you are a bot or a scammer do you?
Part One: Make a good profile.
If you don't want to appear suspicious, you have to make a good looking profile. Follow these steps below:
Always start with a good profile picture. It doesn't have to be your real face — just something that is a good representation of you. A good profile picture could include your furry avatar, your pet, or even your favorite Pokémon. Just make sure that when you are cropping your avatars, that you use good practices like the Rule of Thirds when it comes to face placement.
Never use your real face. Your real face is great for a work app, but not for a casual application like Telegram or Discord. This is for your safety.
If you have a place for a bio, put something there — don't leave it blank! You do not need to share your personal information like age or location; but it is a great place to show what fandoms you are a part of (like being a Furry or Brony). It is also a great place to let people know if you allow PM's (Those are Private Messages), and also a great place to link people to your cool web pages!
Ditch the real name. This is cyberspace, not meatspace. Besides, giving out your government name to strangers is not safe. Pick a nickname or use your fursona's or ponysona's name. If you think people will have a hard time pronouncing it, include how to pronounce your name in your bio! A lot of bronies have this one figured out, but for furries, you can use your species as your last name. If you want to spice it up, try changing the species to a different language like "Lupus" for wolf!
Pick a good unique username. Profiles without usernames are instantly denied from groups since bots and scammers are not likely to waste the time coming up with a unique username. Never select a username with a long string of numbers. While unique, it is a technique used by scammers and bots to get random usernames.
Having friends vouch for you is a great way to connect to neighboring groups. On places like Telegram (a messenger application) and Discord (a voice and text forum application), you will find that it is easier to get into groups when you are active in other groups. People talk around. Keeping a consistant profile among your various platforms will help get you in areas where they might "frisk" you first. Some groups are wary of bots and scammers and have to know if you are a real dude or not.
Never use an image generated by artifical intellegence. "AI-Images" are not treated kindly in creative online spaces. It is easy to find someone to create your fursona, and pretty affordable if you know where to look. This doesn't include the nearly 100s of bases out there that you can customize yourself!
Never have a profile picture with pornographic or fetish-related material. You have to remember that not only are there minors on the internet, but also that you may be denied from groups. Many internet forums and communities frown upon sharing sexual material in their chats. Remember, anyone can see your profile, so keep it clean will ya?
"Crypto-Cash" is generally considered uncool and is a common webtrend used by bots and scammers. Even if you do invest in cyber-currency, its best you keep it out of your bios and profiles.
Part Two: Be a good at participating in chats.
Someone who participates well in chats, thrives on the internet. Use these guidelines to help keep your conversations on base and going great.
Make sure to stay on topic. If the group is about programming, try to do your best to talk about programming or things adjacent. Places like discord have categories and text channels where you can place the proper conversations. Use this to your advantage!
Read the room. Lurk for a moment before jumping in to see what people are talking about. Interjecting a new topic in an established conversation can be very jarring. It can discourage people and make them leave. Discouraged people may be less likely to come back to the conversation.
Keep Politics OUT! Unless the space is about politics, or has a politics section. You should never bring up politics. When this topic comes up, you risk heating up the chat.
Be careful of dominating the chat. Be mindful of going on long rants without participation from others.
If the chat is dead, don't force it. Just come back another time.
Learn names. Chances are, you may see them elsewhere on the internet.
Part Three: Leave the drama at home.
Remember that you are in a public space. A public — cyberspace. It’s easy for conversations online to drift into uncomfortable or heavy territory. While everyone has problems, strangers on the internet aren’t always the right people to turn to for help. Here’s how to handle drama — and what to do instead when things get serious.
Avoid stirring up fights, gossip, or arguments just to get attention. It drives people away and makes the space unpleasant for everyone. It does not matter who is on the right or wrong side. Admins will not sympathize with people who create unsafe spaces. Sometimes it’s better to step away than to keep fueling drama.
If you’re struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please don’t rely on random strangers in a chat room as your lifeline. They may not know what to do, and it can overwhelm them. If you are in America and stuggling with thoughts of suicide, call or text 988, or reach out to other public sources like warmlines.
Shut up. Sometimes you just gotta shut up. Cut the chat cold turkey, let it revive itself with a new topic. Or let it go cold for a day. It is better to let things be than to scare people away. People may be likely to abandon the chat all together if it gets too heated.
Everyone is allowed to be sad or frustrated every now and then, but leave that to your friends, family, and loved ones. If you do need someone to talk to, follow the polite steps in part 4.
Part Four: Chatting with strangers.
Follow these guidelines if you would like to reach out to strangers and talk with them. Many groups will allow you to PM (Private Message) members in the chat. But do so at your own risk.
Never give out personal information to people you don't know. They might seem friendly, but many strangers may be hiding their malicious intentions. Always practice safe internet practices. If someone asks for your age, you may instead give them an age range such as "30+".
Don't be pushy to invite people into groups, events, or to talk. People have various comfort levels. Being invited to a group or event without being provoked looks sketchy and may trigger people's defense responses. You will quickly get blocked for doing this. Be patient and ask first before sharing links.
People may not respond to a simple "hi" or "hello". You may have to jump start the conversation right off the bat. For example, you might have wanted to talk to someone because they share similar interests. Lets look at this this great example below:
"Hello, I noticed that you play Hell Divers II. I really enjoy the game. What is your current loadout?"
Notice how this intro isn't pushy. It has common ground, and asks a very casual question. Once you have developed rapport, you can then ask them to join your gaming group. If someone denys your offer, don't take offense. There may be any number of reasons, and it is impolite to be pushy.
Under no circumstances should you ever open a conversation with a sticker or image alone. Textless conversations will lead to textless responses. Never start a conversation with a sticker that involves physical touching, or sexual themes. This will be your one way ticket to bansville and will quickly get you barred from groups. People will contact admins, and admins often talk, leading you to be labled as a possible nuisance.
Part Five: How to join groups.
Always be mindful of these things when joining groups.
Always follow the instructions of the group when joining. Groups may require a captcha to join, or may require doing an action to confirm yourself as a real person. You may also be required to confirm if you are 18 or older for groups that may contain material unsuitable for minors. Discord groups may require special roles which may require you to read rules and select or react to something. Be mindful and read all instructions.
Read the rules. Some groups may be extremely quick to ban members who break the rules, so you must be mindful.
Always post a greeting when joining. If you join a group and say nothing at all, people might assume you are a bot or a scammer looking to scrape users. A simple "Hello" will do. But it is much nicer to say "Thank you for letting me join this chat."
If a group has an introduction section, take advantage of it and post a short and simple introduction. Make sure the introduction is relevant to the group. Some group chats might have introduction guidelines you can use as well. Here is a good example of an introduction for someone joining an Art Resource group:
Hello! My name is Daleo Star. I am a digital artist, musician, and tabletop gaming enthusiast. I am looking for people to do critique my work. You can find my work at: https://www.example.website.
As a final important note. If you are under the age of 18, do not try to join groups that are 18+. Not only is that dangerous, but you make the entire space dangerous for others. Not only that, but if an admin finds out, you can be banned from all online spaces, and even real life spaces like conventions or meetups (admins talk!). Do not risk it. Just wait til you are 18.
Hopefully this was very useful. Go out there and make some online friends! Eventually I would like to make a guide about how to admin a chat properly. But until then, thanks for reading!
Don't be a Creep Ya Creep! 
