After cringing at our embarrassing AOL usernames for over two decades, it is the end of an era as AOL announces the end of their instant messaging app, according to a TechCrunch article. As of December 15th, our once cherished buddy lists, well thought-out away messages, and creative usernames will be lost in cyberspace. After the rise of Facebook, text messaging, and WhatsApp, AOL was struggling to attract activity when competing with apps designed to accommodate mobile use. To announce the death of the app, AOL sent out a heartfelt email to users which included nostalgic memories associated to unique features within the app.
https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/06/aol-instant-messenger-shut-down/
Former AOL employee reflects on memories most all AOL users can relate to. These memories including AOL messaging as a means to build our earliest forms of friendships and even silly, prepubescent romantic relationships. From the beginning, AOL creators were convinced that technology would totally alter the way people interact. These creators certainly were not wrong. Today most people would rather send a text rather than communicate face to face with another person. Despite small negatives, AOL paved the way for future means of technological communication throughout the world. AOL may have been absent in most of our lives for nearly a decade now but the sound of a door slamming will always remind me of logging out of my AOL messenger.
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This brings back so many memories! AOL instant messenger was the first communication tool I used as a child (except landline phones of course). It’s so crazy to see how much communication has changed in the last 10 years.
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Wow, what a blast from the past! Even though I don’t use AOL instant messenger anymore, the thought of it not existing is upsetting. It will be interesting to see what form of communication next generations children will grow up loving!
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