1. Teenangel Gabriella

2. AIM is an instant messaging system. You have to be thirteen years old to use AIM. Besides sending messages, AIM is also used to tell the world about yourself using AIM profiles. In 1989, the first consumer instant messaging service was released so AIM is not a new technology. When you use AIM, you make up a screen name and password which you use to access your account.

3. On AIM you can see other users information (where they live, what their interests are, etc.) by looking at their profiles. You can post pictures on AIM profiles. You can watch videos on AIM. You can download buddy icons and messages to post on your buddy information and away messages. There are ads on AIM, but they can’t be blocked.

4. Strangers can see all your personal information just by looking at your profile. Put your profile on private or, better yet, don’t post any of your personal information. You can view inappropriate videos or pictures. Don’t go on any profiles of people you don’t know. Anything inappropriate you post on AIM profiles can be viewed by all and have serious consequences. Think about what pictures and information you post and ask yourself if you would want your parents, principal, the police, or prospective colleges or employers to see it.

5. You can receive and send instant messages (IMs) on your computer and on your phone using AIM. You can post messages on other people’s AIM pages and on AIM message boards. You can only contact other AIM users through AIM. You can send emails to people using their screen name. Click here 

6. You can play games with your buddies by inviting them to a selected site. When you are communicating on AIM, you have a one on one conversation on the computer which makes it seem very safe. You can connect to the AIM web-site and AIM profiles from the AIM box. It is possible to talk to more than one person at once.

7. People you don’t know can contact you. Block them when they start to talk to you and be extra careful to only give out your screen name to your friends. People can cyber-bully you. There are many things you can do to handle this. Most importantly of all, stop, block, and tell. Stop what you are doing, block the person, and tell an adult. People can steal your password and pretend to be you. Be sure to never give your password to anyone and to never write it down just as the AIM web-site advises. If someone does pretend to be you, tell an adult and contact all your friends to tell them what is happening.

8. Downloading AIM for your computer is free. The only monetary cost of AIM is the connection to the Internet. There may be an extra fee for using AIM on your phone. Posting the wrong things could cost you future jobs or college acceptances.

9. If you post inappropriate things on your profile, it can come back to haunt you in the form of college and employment rejections. Don’t post anything you would not want your parents, principal, the police, or prospective colleges to see. Your computer can receive viruses on AIM. Don’t click on IMs from people you don’t know and get a good security system for your computer. You can rack up cell phone charges. Check to see what is and isn’t included in your plan. You could disclose information that is private and could get someone such as your parents in trouble. Discuss with your parents what information can and can’t be disclosed. REFIT BOXES

10. Control who is on the buddy list of children from the ages of under eight to twelve. Make sure children understand what information can be shared and how to handle strangers. Make sure children know not to do anything online that they wouldn’t do off- line. Limit the time spent on AIM. For younger children, Google the child’s name and screen name and change their passwords often.

11. As mentioned before, you must be thirteen to use AIM. I would not allow my five- or eight- year-old sister to use it. I would allow my twelve year old sister to use it. I think it would be okay for parents to use. Parents must decide for themselves if their children are mature enough to use this system.