Sessions, streams and sponsor booths can each have a public chat. Everyone at the event who opens the chat reads every message. For a private conversation, use a 1:1 chat with the person instead.
Where to find it
Session: open the session from Schedule (or the name your organizer gave it). The chat entry is below the session description and reads "Got a thought or question? Share it here." Select Open chat. In the web app, when you watch the session's stream, the same chat is also in the Chat tab next to the video.
Sponsor booth: open the booth from Sponsors. The chat entry is below the booth details and reads "Start a public chat with <sponsor name>". Select Open chat.
Stream: open the stream from Stream. Select the Chat tab. In the web app on windows 1024 px and wider, the tab is in the panel to the right of the video. In the mobile app and in narrower windows, it is below the video.
Session and booth chats open on the Chat room screen. Once a chat has 2 or more messages, the entry shows the number of messages and cycles through the latest 3.
If a session, stream or booth has no chat entry or Chat tab, the organizer has not turned on chat there. Networking slots in the schedule never have a chat.
Send a message
Open the chat.
Enter your message in Type a message.... Messages can be up to 255 characters.
Select Send. In the web app, you can also press Enter. Press Shift + Enter for a new line. In the mobile app, the return key adds a new line.
Your message appears at once for everyone in the chat. Your own messages show You next to your name.
In the mobile app, the video of a stream hides while the keyboard is open and comes back when you close the keyboard.
Connect with someone from the chat
Select a person's picture next to their message to open their profile. From there you can start a 1:1 chat with Chat or request a meeting with Suggest meeting, if the event allows it. See Start a chat and Suggest a meeting.
Good to know
Anyone who joined the event can read and write in a chat they can open. If you can't open a session or a stream because it is limited to certain attendees, you can't open its chat either.
You can't edit or delete a message after you send it. Only the organizers can delete messages. To have a message removed, contact the organizer.
There is no reporting of single messages. To report a person, open their profile. See Report or block an attendee.
Blocking someone does not hide them or their messages in these chats. Blocking applies to your 1:1 chats only.
These chats send no push notifications. Open the chat to see new messages.
Links and email addresses in messages open when you select them.
If a chat has more than 999 messages, Show all messages at the top opens the full history on the All messages screen.
Apart from the Enter key, the chat works the same in the mobile app and the web app.
Troubleshooting
Messages don't appear until you reopen the chat
Your network blocks the live connection the chat uses. See Fix chat problems.
The chat entry is missing on a session
The organizer has not turned on chat for sessions, or the slot is a networking slot.