AIM will be shutting down in December after 20 years

It's been quite a few years since AIM quietly bowed out as the main method of instant messaging on the internet. Though if you grew up in the 90's, then you know that texting, Google Chat, and Facebook Messenger owe their existences to the success of AOL's Instant Messenger, which rapidly grew in popularity after becoming a standalone download in May of 1997.

Michael Albers, VP of Communications Product at Oath wrote in a heartfelt Tumblr post called "One Last Away Message":

"AIM tapped into new digital technologies and ignited a cultural shift, but the way in which we communicate with each other has profoundly changed."

Albers reveals that the service will discontinue later this year on December 15th and that the company will "continue building the next generation of iconic brands and life-changing products for users around the world."

AOL hasn't had any active developers for AIM since 2012 and cut itself off from third-party chat clients back in March of this year, so it's been a slow crawl to the finish line for the once prominent messenger. Back in the day, it served a similar function to social media, with more active users taking the time to type out profile info in the backend.

Now that Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram control the social space, there wasn't any room for an outdated online messenger whose features have been copied and improved upon by other services. Still, it's a sad day for those who grew up with it.

[AIMemories via The Verge]