Is Instant Messaging Still Hip?
I have been a user of instant messaging since the early days when ICQ and the AOL messenger were the only games in town. Ten years ago, I created my AOL screenname that I still use today. The program grew quickly in popularity, and along came Yahoo and MSN. Suddenly, I was able to chat at all hours to most of my friends and family. I used to sign on nearly every time I sat at the computer, just to see if anyone I knew was on. Most of the time I’d find at least one of my buddies online. With the spread of always-on broadband Internet connections, I thought for sure that most of my buddies would eventually fall into the habit of leaving their IM software up and running in an away state, as I had noticed some people doing.
Time has passed, and today when I sign on to AOL and Yahoo, there is usually nobody online. Is this just my experience, or have others noticed it to? Maybe I just have fewer friends than I used to or something. But it is only every now and then that someone on my list logs on.
Today, I use Gaim to connect to the services all at once. It uses less memory, has no ads, and isn’t intrusive. Although I am almost never engaged in actual chat, I sign onto it anyway, just to tow the line and try to keep it alive. I figure if my buddies log on and see at least one person, they’ll be more inclined in the future to keep logging on.
Perhaps newer technologies like text messaging, Skype, MySpace, and There.com have siphoned away users from traditional instant messaging software. I don’t know the reason, or if the problem is as bad as I see it from my point of view, but I sure wish more people would continue to use these services. If the original programs have grown too bloated and bulky for you, try using Gaim or Trillian instead. Either is usually a better alternative to the real programs.
