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What every parent needs to know about AOL Instant Messenger

What every parent needs to know about AOL Instant Messenger. David Strom dstrom@cmp.com March 2003. Summary. My qualifications What is involved Benefits Software components and versions Issues for parents Recommendations for your family. What do your kids do with AIM?.

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What every parent needs to know about AOL Instant Messenger

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  1. What every parent needs to know about AOL Instant Messenger David Strom dstrom@cmp.com March 2003

  2. Summary • My qualifications • What is involved • Benefits • Software components and versions • Issues for parents • Recommendations for your family

  3. What do your kids do with AIM? • Talk one-on-one in multiple sessions, by sending text messages with some graphics • Talk one-to-many in chat rooms, also with text and graphics • Transfer files (music, videos, images) between them

  4. AIM benefits • Kids aren’t on the phone as much (this could be a drawback too) • You can keep better track of latchkey kids and when you travel • They become better typists • Any communication is a good thing these days

  5. AIM comes in different versions • As part of the overall AOL CD • A special piece of software that runs independently of any AOL account • Software that runs on the Web only (AIMexpress) • With Palms and other devices

  6. AIM components • Screen name or handle – the name that your child chooses as his/her AIM identity • Active message windows, one for each person you are communicating with • Buddy list – this is typically dozens, if not hundreds of people that your child may or may not know • Away message – the message that your child can create when not at the PC that anyone who knows his SN can view, including you • Profiles -- short descriptions that anyone can see • Chat rooms – more in a moment

  7. A guide to the lingo “teentalk” • G2g, cul8r, pos, Bcuz • See if you can decode this: • My smmr hols wr CWOT. B4, we used 2go2 NY 2C my bro, his GF & thr 3 : kids F2F. ILNY, it's a gr8 plc

  8. Translation • My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend and their three screaming kids face to face. I love New York. It's a great place.

  9. Common misconceptions • You need an AOL account to use AIM • You have to use AOL to dial up the Internet to use AIM – only need an Internet connection such as Optimum Online • AIM client allows you around the concurrent user limits on the AOL software (so does v8)

  10. Common technical issues • AIM addiction and overuse: parents need to limit the number of hours online • Does your child actually know everyone on his/her buddy list? • Receiving viruses through AIM file transfer • If you have a teen or child AOL account, they can’t use their SN w/ AIM client • Make sure you are running AOL v6 or later to migrate buddy lists

  11. Common social issues • Your child’s online language can surprise you! • Kids don’t censor themselves online • Your kid’s words can come back to haunt them and get them in trouble • Giving out personal data inadvertently to strangers (Shannon’s story) • Kids use AIM to copy homework

  12. The danger of chat rooms • You don’t know who is really present • The text is available to anyone and could be passed around without your child’s knowledge or approval • Things can get really raunchy or profane quickly • Bottom line: avoid them!

  13. (One set of) Guidelines • Under 7 – no way • From 8-10 – very limited usage and lots of pos and co-surfing • From 11-14 – you can try to enforce curfews • 15+ -- the battle is already lost, you have no control

  14. Some other suggestions • Limit AIM time and hours like any other computer activity • Ask who’s that SN periodically • Monitor your child’s profile and away message periodically • Block port 5190 on your home router if you need to enforce this

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