Here’s a little quiz for you:
Yes or no, are you able to hold a conversation with seven or more people simultaneously? Have you ever judged someone by the originality of their away message? Do you check your computer screen for messages instead of your answering machine when you come home from school or work? Have you ever had a huge test the next day but still talked online for more than four consecutive hours the night before?
If you answered yes to more than one of the questions, then you might be like me. You just might be addicted to instant messaging.
According to an online instant messaging guide, America Online has had a form of instant messaging since the early 90s, but it was not until ICQ started its service in 1996 that instant messaging was popularized. And AOL and ICQ are not the only companies offering such services. The Microsoft Network and Yahoo! both give all of their clients the ability to talk in real time to people over the Internet.
Although the exact number of people using instant messaging services today is unclear, it’s not difficult to imagine the numbers are of epidemic proportions. Instant messaging even can be used from cell phones, with companies such as Sprint PCS offering wireless Web services.
For me, instant messaging is more than just a little hobby; it’s literally an important part of my daily life. I readily can keep in touch with people who live far away without having to worry about the hassles of cell phone bills and cell phone static. Instead of having to call all my friends each night, I can be much more efficient and talk to several of them at once. And, for an obsessive mutlitasker such as myself, I am able to talk to all of my friends and get homework done all at the same time.
There are other benefits of instant messaging too. Talking on the phone is down right unpleasant nowadays when you have instant messaging, where you don’t have to worry about awkward silences and talking at the same time. And I know instant messaging has made me a more honest person. I bet I’m not alone when I say it’s easier to tell someone the truth through the Internet than it is in person or on the phone.
While instant messaging does provide all of these benefits, I can’t help but feel it’s also almost dehumanizing us. While instant messaging might make us more willing to open up, how personal can you really get?
Now, I know I have had many really good, really deep, conversations online, and some of my most fulfilling friendships first were forged through instant messaging. But as much as I love the convenience of this software, how far are we going to let it go?
Some schoolteachers across the country have voiced concern about the growing trend of their students starting to write their papers using Internet shorthand, such as “btw” for “by the way” and “thx” for “thanks”. Sure, the adults of tomorrow are going to be able to type with fast speed and precision, but what about their grammar?
You already can see billboards and signs with Internet abbreviations on them today. The word “at” has been eliminated and replaced with its symbol, “@.” And while all of this is fun, convenient and easy, at what point are we going to say enough?
I would love to be able to call for a boycott of instant messaging. I wish I could suggest to all of you to take a break, take a week or two and not IM anyone, but instead, call them on the phone, go visit them — heck, even write them a letter. But I can’t ask anyone to do these things. Why? Because I doubt I’d last two hours without my AIM.
In recent years, gambling and even sex have been legitimized as real addictions, with support groups springing up all over the country and daytime talk shows capitalizing on the families and victims of these addictions. I think it’s time for a new addiction to be recognized.
Hi, my name is Adrienne Breaux, and I’m an IM-aholic. They say knowing you have a problem is the first step, right? If only I could find a support group.