What is Instant Messaging?

Instant messaging (IM) uses real-time text based communication between two or more people who are set up with IM. It allows immediate communication between users. It is different from email, because messages appear instantly, on can respond much quicker to a conversation using IM than instead of email, which can be left sitting in an in-box. Instant Messaging is comparable to chatting in your own private chat room with only the person or persons you’ve connected with to chat. You can create a list of people as buddies that you choose to contact or communicate with. It is a faster and simpler way to communicate with others than using email. Texted conversations can be saved for later reference. WiseGEEK (2011) shares that “caution should be exercised with messaging. Children should be supervised carefully when instant messaging and should not add people they do not know to their IM list without approval from their parents” (p.1). This is to monitor who contacts your child, as predators have been known to frequent chat rooms to seek out victims.

Like other media technologies, TopBits.com (2011) states, “instant messaging is rapidly replacing the telephone as the primary method of ‘reaching out and touching someone.’” (p.1). There are various IM software applications to choose from to create IM clients. They are Pidgin, Miranda, Psi, Adium, Trillian, AOL and Babuki. These software applications enable clients to connect with one another to communicate instantly.

References:


TopBits.com, (2011). Instant Messaging. Retrieved March 21, 2011 from http://www.tech-faq.com/instant-messaging.html

WiseGEEK, (2011). What is instant messaging? Retrieved March 21, 2011 from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-instant-messaging.htm