As a Muslim I believe that chatting on the Internet should be forbidden, but I want to convince my friend of what I believe with concrete information that supports my ideas. So is there any information that backs up what is written?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Chatting on Internet is not completely forbidden. In fact, it is of two kinds:

First, if it is for entertainment in some given times and is free from forbidden acts like lying, swearing, saying bad words and establishing forbidden relations and the like, then it is lawful.

Second, it can occupy the whole time of the person making him neglect his duties and obligations in this life and the Hereafter and leading him sometimes to establishing forbidden relations. In this case, it is forbidden.

For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 81671, 85359, 119025, 84874, and 84079.

Allah knows best.