Say Farewell to AOL Instant Messenger

It's a distressing day, 90'due south kids. AOL Instant Messenger (otherwise known as AIM) is officially shutting downwards later xx years.

AIM debuted equally office of the America Online desktop net service, but launched as a standalone offer in 1997, introducing many of u.s. to the joys of internet chat for the offset time. Merely on Dec. 15, 2022, it will be no more, parent company Adjuration appear today. Past twelvemonth's end, you lot'll no longer exist able to access AIM and all user data volition be deleted. Aim.com email accounts will not be affected.

"If you were a 90'south kid, chances are there was a point in time when AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) was a huge part of your life," Adjuration wrote in its announcement. "You likely think the CD, your get-go screenname, your advisedly curated away messages, and how you organized your buddy lists."

The beloved chat service was and then ubiquitous that it played a part in movies and TV shows similar You've Got Mail (a product placement bonanza) and Sexual practice in the City, as many will recollect. Merely, AIM'due south user base has been failing for years, thanks to competition from mod chat services and apps like Skype, Google Conversation, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, and many others.

All practiced things must eventually come to an cease, and this is the end of the road for AIM.

"AIM tapped into new digital technologies and ignited a cultural shift, just the way in which we communicate with each other has profoundly changed," Oath wrote. "As a result we've made the decision that we will be discontinuing AIM."

The proclamation comes after AOL started scaling AIM back in March when it ended third-political party access to the chat service.

Meanwhile, Twitter users have already started reacting to the news; bank check out what people are proverb beneath.

AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) is officially shutting down for skillful on December 15.
Old people: Information technology's the stop of an era!
Today'due south kids: flick.twitter.com/P2BRaUuOuv
— Adam MS (@Muh_Sadam) October six, 2022

~*~*~R.I.P. AoL iNsTaNt mEsSeNgEr ~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~1997-2017~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) October 6, 2022

Damn AOL Instant Messenger is ending its run. I used to spit madd G in eye school on AIM. pic.twitter.com/44nMivz71N
— Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) October half-dozen, 2022

Damn...AOL Instant Messenger is *but now* ending? In that location's people however using it? pic.twitter.com/0iGrWwdOMc
— Haunted Hoemo (@_hoemo) October half dozen, 2022

AOL instant messenger was the place where trolls were born and fabricated. Skillful times. RIP.
— psxisnotps1 (@psxisnotps1) October 6, 2022

I spent soooo much time on AOL Instant Messenger in the 90s!
— Gene Nash (@GeneNash) October 6, 2022

#RIP - Aol Instant Messenger #AIM

Give thanks you for the memories & awkward conversations with girls throughout Middle School ??

— Tyler Gossage (@Tyler_Gossage) Oct 6, 2022

About Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo is PCMag's skilful on fettle and smart home products. Teaching yoga for nearly 10 years has helped her in evaluating a range of connected health products including fettle trackers, middle rate monitors, rowers, smart scales, stationary bikes, strength training machines, treadmills, and more. Angela also tests smart habitation devices from her ranch in Florida, including air purifiers, kitchen appliances, and robot vacuums, just to proper name a few.