What is Instant Messaging?

An instant messaging program is one that can instantly send messages from one computer to another.

They are a form of ‘instant email’ and are very popular with both children and adults. They can let you know when your friends or family are online, and allow you to send them short messages, similar to sending an SMS text message on your mobile phone.

Popular instant messaging programs include:

• ICQ (www.icq.com)
• MSN Messenger (messenger.ninemsn.com.au)
• Yahoo Messenger (au.messenger.yahoo.com)
• AOL Instant Messenger (www.aim.com)
• Trillian (www.trillian.cc)

Many children use these programs to chat to their friends after school or on the weekends.

Instant messaging programs are usually a one-to-one communications medium, although some programs allow many people to chat to each other at the same time, much like a private chat room.