Instant Messaging

Related terms:	AIM, Y!M, ICQ
See also:	Fandom and the Internet
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Instant Messaging is real-time synchronous chat among two or more people over the Internet. Fans use it for many purposes, including:

• Squee-ing together at a broadcast or awards show
• Describing character actions or thoughts in a Role-Playing Game
• Writing collaboration, either directly via IM or using the messaging as a Meta channel
• Meeting for fan projects (such as this wiki)
• General fannish dialog or group chat

One of the first large purveyors of an instant messaging service/client was AOL (America Online); when it first became popular, instant messaging was widely referred to by the AOL-related acronym, AIM.