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| IM (Instant Messaging) is commonly used by
many Internet users and is not limited to
young people. It is used
for personal communication but
more and more businesses are
using IM. |
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What is IM?
IM stands for Instant Messaging.
Instant Messaging is a text based (typing)
communication medium by which participants
can carry on a real time conversation
electronically - through the Internet. It is similar to
email, but is more like a personal chat. All
parties are on-line at the same time and
send short messages to each other. In
recent years, IM has been enhanced to, in
some cases, include live, video and sound
communication. Most IM applications
(programs) include the ability to send files
(any type but usually photographs).
For many young people, IM has replaced the
telephone as their communication medium of
choice and may spend hours conversing with
their friends (and sometimes strangers) via
IM. They may also use it to break
boredom in computer lab at school. It
is similar to text messaging on cell phones
and with some IM systems, can be used via
cell phone. |
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Instant Messaging Services
The most popular, free IM Services are:
AIM (AOL Instant Messenger)
ICQ (I Seek You)
MSN Messenger
Yahoo Messenger
Google Chat
You will need to install a program on your
computer for each one that you wish to use
unless you use
Trillian
or a program like it.
[For more information about setting up these
IM's,
go here] |
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Which
IM should I use?
That depends on which IM service those you
wish to IM with are using. AOL seems
to be the one most often used by teens.
If you want to be able to IM with users of
all four of the most popular services with
one program, get
Trillian. |
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If I
want to IM with people on different IMs,
will I have to install each one on my
computer?
Trillian
will allow IMing with users of all of the 4
most popular IM services with just one
program. This is a much better
solution. |
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People
seem to have a language of their own on IM.
How do I know what they are saying?
People
(particularly young people) have developed a shorthand for IM
communication. Sometimes, it is more
than shorthand and they use it so that
someone watching over their shoulder (read
this as parents) can't understand what they
are communicating to their friends.
Here is a list of some of the most common or
concerning of these shortcuts: |
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ADR |
Address |
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ASL(R P) |
Age Sex Location (Race /
Picture) |
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BF / GF |
Boyfriend / Girlfriend |
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BRB |
Be Right Back |
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CD9 |
Code 9 Parents Are
Around |
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GNOC |
Get Naked On Cam |
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GTG |
Got To Go |
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HAK |
Hugs and Kisses |
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IDK |
I Don't Know |
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ILU or ILY |
I Love You |
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KPC |
Keeping Parents Clueless |
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LMIRL |
Lets Meet In Real Life |
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MMOS |
Members Of The Opposite
Sex |
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MorF |
Male Or Female |
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MOS |
Mom Over Shoulder |
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NIFOC |
Naked In Front Of
Computer |
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NMU |
Not Much, You? |
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P911 |
Parent Emergency |
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PAW |
Parents Are Watching |
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PIR |
Parent In Room |
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POS |
Parent Over Shoulder |
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PRON |
Porn |
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PRW |
Parents Are Watching |
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S2R |
Send To Receive
(Pictures) |
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SX |
Sex |
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TDTM |
Talk Dirty To Me |
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W/E |
Whatever |
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WUF |
Where Are You From |
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WYCM |
Will You Call Me |
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WYRN |
What’s Your Real Name |
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