AOL’s long-running instant messaging service will shut down for good on December 15th.
AIM was the core of many 90’s kid’s initial social experiences on the Internet. AOL announced the shutdown today October 6 saying that it’s no longer needed because people communicate on the Internet differently.
AIM tapped into new digital technologies and ignited a cultural shift, but the way in which we communicate with each other has profoundly changed,” writes Michael Albers, communications products VP at Oath (the Verizon behemoth that consumed AOL).
AIM was one of the first most successful instant messengers. But smartphones made it possible to instantly communicate straight from your mobile device. Additionally, the rise of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat made people talk on their phones instead of their desktops.
Take your last chance to write your final away message in the comments.
