How to create a chat room

HeyPeers offers Peer Supporters the ability to create both group and one-on-one chat rooms. We highly encourage you to create and participate in our chat rooms. They are a source of comfort and community for members and peer supporters alike. For more information on the types of chat rooms we offer, please see Types of chat rooms.

Creating chat rooms is done on the Chat page. To go there, select My Chat from the top menu bar.

If you are new to the page and do not yet belong to any chat rooms, you will first be brought to the Discover Chat Rooms page. Here you can see a list of all existing public chat rooms offered by other peer supporters and organizations. To continue, click on the New Chat button. 

If you are already on the My Chat page, click on New Chat.

A drop-down menu opens giving you two choices: One-on-One Chat and Group Chat.

A one-on-one chat is a private chat between you and one of your contacts. First, you must already have an approved connection with the member who you wish to invite into this chat room.

Once you are connected to the person you would like to chat with, you may select One-on-One Chat from the dropdown menu.

You will see a list of your connections. Click on the individual who you want to invite into the one-on-one chat room. This highlights the person's name and the profile box.

Click on the Create Chat Room button to save your selection. This brings you immediately into the chat room to begin your message.

All of your one-on-one chat rooms can be found on the My Chat page by clicking on the One-on-One button.  

A group chat is a chat room with multiple members. You can create two types of group chat rooms:

1. Private: A private group chat room is a closed, invitation-only conversation space. It is not displayed on the Discover Chat Rooms page.

2. Public: A public group chat room is open to anyone who wishes to join and is displayed on the Discover Chat Rooms page for all members to explore.

To create a group chat, begin by selecting Group Chat from the dropdown menu.

The Create Group Chat page is displayed.

1. Name: The name of the chat room. This name will be visible to all members on HeyPeers.
   
   
2. Description: The description field allows you to provide a brief but meaningful summary of your chat room. This summary helps potential users quickly understand the purpose and focus of the chat room, such as its topic, intended audience, and overall vibe. A well-crafted description makes your chat room stand out and ensures it attracts the right participants who share similar interests or goals.
   Minimum length: 80 characters
   Maximum length: 750 characters
   
   
3. Banner image
   An optional graphic or picture displayed on the chat room's details page. It's typically used to represent the chat room's purpose, theme, or personality and can include text, graphics, or photos that resonate with the group.
   Recommended Size: 1800 x 220 pixels
   Size Limit: 5MB
   Formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF
   
   
4. Visibility
   Select Private (only invited members can join) or Public (any user can discover and join) 

This brings you immediately into the chat room to begin your message.

All of your group chat rooms can be found on the My Chat page by clicking on the Groups button.