Instant+Messaging

//Instant Messaging //
 * Instant Messaging** is a way of communicating in real time from one person to another, a person to a group, or a group to a group. Instant Messaging, being internet based, requires a [[image:images-1.jpg align="right"]]connection to the internet in order to relay the text messages to the other uses. Text, however, isn't the only way to communicate over Instant Messaging. Many people nowadays use headsets with microphones or webcams to do video and voice chats. The first messaging service offered was from AOL (America Online) and shortly after, services such as MSN and Yahoo started to appear, ready for users.

__Internet Slang__
Even though some people may think that Instant Messaging is merely one person typing a message to another, there are so many more aspects that make it such a useful and entertaining way to communicate. You don't have to be a Instant Messaging genius to know some of the lingo that goes on while chatting. Some examples of such lingo includes:
 * brb - Be right back
 * gtg - Got to go
 * l8er - Later
 * pce - Peace
 * ttyl - Talk to you later
 * lol - Laughing out loud
 * k - Okay
 * ur - Your

This language, commonly called //Internet Slang//, has become part of our everyday language. We use it for emails, text messaging from our phones, IM and even notes of reminders. Today, there are dictionaries of all the Internet Slang words, [] would be a good example. The site estimates that there are over 2556 acronyms considered to be Internet Slang.

__Instant Messaging Services__
Some of the major services include:


 * = **Service** ||= **User Count** ||
 * = AIM ||= 53 million Active / 100 million total ||
 * = XMPP ||= 40 - 50 million total ||
 * = Skype ||= 309 million total ||
 * = Tencent QQ ||= 783 million accounts "active" in China ||
 * = Windows Live Messenger (MSN) ||= 300 million active ||
 * = Yahoo Messenger ||= 248 million active ||

__Problems__
Over the years, IM has been getting bad press of issues such as Internet froid, stolen identities and credit card theft. IM is full of "hackers" who go onto such services just to create havoc in peoples lives. Hackers have to ability to gt inside your IM account and get valuable information such as credit card numbers, addresses, phone numbers and even names of friends and family members. Often Hackers send viruses in the form of "friendly-looking" emails, where users click on a link an are instantly infected with the virus.

Another major issue facing Instant Messaging is that of predators. Older people go onto Instant Messaging services and create accounts primarily to attract younger users as their "friends". Many children fall into a "trust trap" where they trust the people they are talking to, even though they have never seen them before, or know who they are. In some cases, these predators will say (via text in messages) that they are of a much younger age then they actually are. Some predators will even ask to meet the other kid they are talking to. These are the situations where things can take a turn for the worst. Parent should always be in control, and know EXACTLY what their child is doing when they log on, the friends they add, and the messages they send and receive.