Editing Internet forum (section)

===Registration or anonymity===
Many Internet forums require registration to post. Registered users of the site are referred to as ''members'' and are allowed to submit or send electronic messages through the [[web application]]. The process of registration involves verification of one's age (typically age 13 and over is required so as to meet [[COPPA]] requirements of American forum software) followed by a declaration of the [[terms of service]] (other documents may also be present) and a request for agreement to said terms.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/faq.php?faq=vb3_board_usage#faq_vb3_register |title=vBulletin Community forum - FAQ: Registration |publisher=vBulletin.com |access-date=2008-09-14 |archive-date=2012-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115211910/https://www.vbulletin.com/forum/faq.php?faq=vb3_board_usage#faq_vb3_register |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php#f01 |title=phpBB FAQ: Why do I need to register at all? |publisher=phpBB.com |access-date=2008-09-14 |archive-date=2008-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913215458/http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php#f01 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php#f07 |title=phpBB FAQ: What is COPPA? |publisher=phpBB.com |access-date=2008-09-14 |archive-date=2008-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913215458/http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php#f07 |url-status=live }}</ref> Subsequently, if all goes well, the candidate is presented with a [[web form]] to fill requesting at the very least a [[username]] (an alias), password, email and validation of a [[CAPTCHA]] code.

While simply completing the registration [[web form]] is in general enough to generate an account,<ref group="note">an account is a space on the site identified by the chosen username through which a member carries out activities and contributes.</ref> the status label ''Inactive'' is commonly provided by default until the registered user confirms the email address given while registering indeed belongs to the user. Until that time, the registered user can log into the new account but may not [[#Post|post]], [[#Thread|reply]], or send [[#Private message|private messages]] in the forum.
[[File:Spacetrace forum.png|thumb|280px|Internet forums are used frequently in conjunction with multiplayer online games.]]

Sometimes a ''referrer system'' is implemented. A ''referrer'' is someone who introduced or otherwise "helped someone" with the decision to join the site (likewise, how a [[HTTP referrer]] is the site who linked one to another site). Usually, referrers are other forum members and members are usually rewarded for referrals. The referrer system is also sometimes implemented so that, if a visitor visits the forum through a link such as <code>referrerid=300</code>, the user with the id number (in this example, 300) would receive referral credit if the visitor registers.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2008-09-15 |publisher=vBulletin.com |title=vBulletin Options - User registration |url=http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/ |archive-date=2008-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081115151441/http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html |url-status=live }}</ref> The purpose is commonly just to give credit (sometimes rewards are implied) to those who help the community grow.

In areas such as [[Japan]], registration is frequently optional and anonymity is sometimes even encouraged.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://archive.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2007/04/2channel|title=2-Channel Gives Japan's Famously Quiet People a Mighty Voice|magazine=WIRED}}</ref> On these forums, a [[tripcode]] system may be used to allow verification of an [[Personally identifiable information|identity]] without the need for formal registration. People who regularly read the forum discussions but do not register or do not post are often referred to as "lurkers".