| Founded | 1997 |
|---|---|
| Closed | 2017 |
| Country | USA |
| Sector | Social |
| Collapse type | Slow Death |
| Founder | AOL (Barry Appelman, Eric Bosco) |
AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)
"AIM defined a generation's digital social life. 100M users. Away messages. Buddy lists. Verizon killed it with a press release."
Years-long decline before final shutdown
Key Events Timeline
AOL Instant Messenger launched in 1997 and became the defining communication platform for a generation of Americans: screennames, buddy lists, away messages, and winking emoticons defined teen and young adult online communication for a decade.
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