Say goodbye to the iconic yellow running man and prepare your permanent away messages: AOL Instant Messenger is officially ending in December. AIM announced Friday that its chat platform will be discontinued after 20 years of instant-messaging fun. The service, which was introduced in 1997, will shut down Dec. 15.
According to a statement from Michael Albers, VP of communications product at AOL’s parent company Oath, “AIM tapped into new digital technologies and ignited a cultural shift, but the way in which we communicate with each other has profoundly changed. As a result we’ve made the decision that we will be discontinuing AIM effective December 15, 2017. We are more excited than ever to continue building the next generation of iconic brands and life-changing products for users around the world.” There is no replacement product at this time.
All good things come to an end. On Dec 15, we'll bid farewell to AIM. Thank you to all our users! #AIMemories https://t.co/b6cjR2tSuU pic.twitter.com/V09Fl7EPMx
— AIM (@aim) October 6, 2017
AIM will remain active until Dec. 15. After that date, users’ Buddy List and data will be removed. The @aim.com email address, however, will still work. Other messaging services, such as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, have taken over as the new way to stay connected.
See how social media reacted to AIM shutting down below:
Social Media Reacts to AOL Instant Messenger Being Discontinued After 20 Years
Today we say farewell to AOL Instant Messenger. Naturally we should all reveal our embarrassing usernames. (won't reveal mine tho!) #RIPaim
— Joseph Gordon-Levitt (@hitRECordJoe) October 6, 2017
RIP to a true legend in the internet game. https://t.co/atoCQ9gwrT
— Jerry David (@BostonJerry) October 6, 2017
Another tech portion of my childhood dies… https://t.co/evLPoaalWE
— Anthony De Rosa (@Anthony) October 6, 2017
Just because I haven’t used AIM in years doesn’t mean I’m not sad. It’s like finding out a band you were really into 15 years ago broke up.
— Mute Bae (@DanGnajerle) October 6, 2017
My office still uses AIM so this is sort of terrible https://t.co/pS12Es2Nuv
— Cara Jeffrey (@cara_jeffrey) October 6, 2017
Let us all now please rise, and honor AIM with a moment of static. pic.twitter.com/Otst8mvsBL
— Joey Langone (@JoeyLangone) October 6, 2017
Oh wow. AIM was my life in middle school. Rest In Peace my friend. https://t.co/simEC7xHeu
— Calvin (@calvinstowell) October 6, 2017
~~ * ~ dOn't cRy BeCaUse it's oVeR smile because it happened ~ * ~~ https://t.co/Moogfgc5iD
— Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) October 6, 2017
"AOL Instant Messenger" the last of the 90s
— Ryan (@ryanfield) October 6, 2017
AOL Instant Messenger is still a THING?! Good Lord when I saw AIM trending I thought we'd gone back to 1998.
— Victoria Veruca Salt (@trumpanzeetamer) October 6, 2017
RIP AIM. Today's kids will never understand the struggle of writing the perfect away message. #RIPaim
— Phyllis (@phyllisthebuzz) October 6, 2017
All my away messages were an artistic expression of passive-aggressive angst.
Kids these days will never understand. #RIPAIM
— Alex Goldschmidt (@alexandergold) October 6, 2017
I think I've had an away message up for 15 years now. "BRB" …But seriously, I was coming back. #ripAIM
— Joel Minnick (@jrminnick) October 6, 2017
Running home after school to login to AOL Instant Messenger was an everyday thing #FlashbackFriday pic.twitter.com/nTofvETfXc
— ⭐️ (@ItzBizzle_Babe) October 6, 2017
RIP AOL Instant Messenger. From screen names to away messages…. You guided us all pic.twitter.com/tX9eLNqyTQ
— Lance Mijares (@KING_PRUVN) October 6, 2017
How do you feel about AIM shutting down in December? Do you still use AOL Instant Messenger? Sound off in the comments section below!