Instant Messaging: How Many People Use IM & Which Services?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the usage of instant messaging (IM) services, exploring how many people use IM, which services they own, and their experiences with these platforms. Participants share their preferences, past usage, and current alternatives to IM.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the number of IM users and the services they use, mentioning several platforms like ICQ, Yahoo!, AIM, and MSN.
  • Some participants express a preference for MSN, citing its functionality for sending SMS and ease of use with multiple accounts through Pidgin.
  • Several participants indicate they no longer use IM services, opting instead for cell phones or email, with some mentioning Facebook chat as a substitute.
  • One participant shares their experience with Skype, emphasizing the importance of video chat over text messaging for maintaining long-distance relationships.
  • Another participant notes frustrations with Yahoo's bandwidth usage and the difficulty of managing contacts, leading them to switch to Skype.
  • Some participants express a dislike for instant messaging, describing it as a nuisance and preferring other forms of communication like texting or email.
  • There are mentions of using IM services in the past, with nostalgia for platforms like ICQ and AIM, contrasted with current disinterest.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express a mix of opinions regarding the use of IM services, with some actively using them while others have moved away from IM altogether. There is no consensus on the value or effectiveness of IM platforms, as experiences and preferences vary widely.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention specific frustrations with certain IM platforms, such as issues with ads, bandwidth, and contact management, which may influence their current usage. The discussion reflects a range of personal experiences and preferences without resolving the overall effectiveness of IM services.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals exploring the current landscape of instant messaging services, those considering alternatives to traditional IM, or anyone curious about the evolution of communication preferences over time.

mcknia07
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How many people actually use IM? How many different services of IM do you own and what are they? (ICQ, Yahoo!, AIM, MSN,etc...)

I know of people that have several, myself included, and I was just curious as to what other have and use...
 
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I use MSN predominantly...Check out Pidgin, it let's you use all of your accs at once, really easy. Way better than Trillian.
 
I used ICQ about 10 years ago, when it was cool.
 
I don't use any of them anymore. I have a cell phone or email.
 
I like MSN (and use it mainly for this reason) because I can send SMS to my friends.
 
In high school I used to use MSN a lot, I haven't used IM in about 4 years now though.
 
I don't use instant messaging at all anymore, aside from the (slightly annoying) facebook chat function.
 
I used to use MSN, Yahoo, and AIM. However, now I only use AIM (very seldom). I prefer email.
 
I'm constantly on MSN.
 
  • #10
I am always on msn with offline status. I used for my web-programming work too.
 
  • #11
I'm on AOL instant messenger sometimes, but I always stay invisible and have a very big "blocked" list. This way only people I want to talk to message me :)
 
  • #12
Beeza said:
I'm on AOL instant messenger sometimes, but I always stay invisible and have a very big "blocked" list. This way only people I want to talk to message me :)

I thought that's not normal.
 
  • #13
I used to use Yahoo and MSN, but they got really difficult to deal with...especially Yahoo seemed to start using more bandwidth for ads than for chat and there would be freeze-ups and lags that got frustrating. I use Skype now, but only use it to chat with my boyfriend so we can use video chat and actually see each other while we talk. We don't actually use the IM part...I'd rather talk and see his face than type. It makes it a bit easier to live so far apart.

And, like Beeza, I usually keep myself invisible while on chat, because I HATE being interrupted by obnoxious pests who think that just because they see someone online, they should randomly try to chat with them.
 
  • #14
Moonbear said:
We don't actually use the IM part...I'd rather talk and see his face than type. It makes it a bit easier to live so far apart.
Very true. The last place I lived was college accomodation so the webcam part of skype was blocked by the firewall.. that was rather annoying!

And, like Beeza, I usually keep myself invisible while on chat, because I HATE being interrupted by obnoxious pests who think that just because they see someone online, they should randomly try to chat with them.
Surely they shouldn't be on your friends list, anyway?
 
  • #15
cristo said:
I don't use instant messaging at all anymore, aside from the (slightly annoying) facebook chat function.

I'm not sure I like the Facebook chat thing, it makes your screen/tabs blink a lot. I mainly use my MSN now, no one on that is annoying :biggrin:
 
  • #16
I used to use AIM a lot. Now I don't use anything, just text messaging/e-mail/or phone.
 
  • #17
Google mail has a nifty built-in chat function that's pretty handy. I use that with one person and Skype with my best friend so we can make faces at each other by webcam. Now that beats the heck out of phone calls.
 
  • #18
cristo said:
Surely they shouldn't be on your friends list, anyway?

Nobody on my friends list. Skype makes it easy to prevent anyone from trying to start a conversation if they aren't already on your friends list, but Yahoo used to be really a pain. You could block people afterward, but it didn't seem to block them from trying to make initial contact. Plus, the last upgrade of it also made it impossible to hide the email notifications (the only email my Yahoo account gets is spam since I only used it to chat). Fortunately, I found Skype and got to delete Yahoo.
 
  • #19
When I used ICQ I felt obligated to say something to anyone on my list if they were online. Plus I'd throw a few messages to anyone who wasn't online in case they were just hiding because I'm sure they wouldn't be hiding from me.
 
  • #20
I just get used to sing in yahoo when I come on but I really don't feel like chatting anymore.I'm getting old...:-p
 
  • #21
Oh Lisa! You can be like some of the young chaps and start chatting again, it will make you feel so young again :biggrin: You have to keep up on the technology of the new world :smile:
 
  • #22
Have I mentioned that I *HATE* instant messaging and refuse to use it?

I was one of the first people to get on ICQ because a guy that was working with the developers kept bugging the group at the Cornell reflector to test it. It was a novelty at first, but it soon became a nuisance.
 
  • #23
when you spend all day watching the general discussion page hitting refresh every few seconds too see if anyone has posted anything it's pretty much the same thing
 
  • #24
I used to use gaim like 10 years ago. Now the only IMing I do is on steam (games) or sometimes okcupid.
 

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