... AOL CD. A special piece of software that run

1
What every parent needs to know about AOL
Instant Messenger

• David Strom
• dstrom_at_cmp.com
• March 2003

2
Summary

• My qualifications
• What is involved
• Benefits
• Software components and versions
• Issues for parents
• Recommendations for your family

3
What do your kids do with AIM?

• Talk one-on-one in multiple sessions, by sending
  text messages with some graphics
• Talk one-to-many in chat rooms, also with text
  and graphics
• Transfer files (music, videos, images) between
  them

4
AIM benefits

• Kids arent on the phone as much (this could be a
  drawback too)
• You can keep better track of latchkey kids and
  when you travel
• They become better typists
• Any communication is a good thing these days

5
AIM comes in different versions

• As part of the overall AOL CD
• A special piece of software that runs
  independently of any AOL account
• Software that runs on the Web only (AIMexpress)
• With Palms and other devices

6
AIM components

• Screen name or handle the name that your child
  chooses as his/her AIM identity
• Active message windows, one for each person you
  are communicating with
• Buddy list this is typically dozens, if not
  hundreds of people that your child may or may not
  know
• Away message the message that your child can
  create when not at the PC that anyone who knows
  his SN can view, including you
• Profiles -- short descriptions that anyone can
  see
• Chat rooms more in a moment

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A guide to the lingo teentalk

• G2g, cul8r, pos, Bcuz
• See if you can decode this
• My smmr hols wr CWOT. B4, we used 2go2 NY 2C my
  bro, his GF thr 3 kids F2F. ILNY,
  it's a gr8 plc

8
Translation

• My summer holidays were a complete waste of time.
  Before, we used to go to New York to see my
  brother, his girlfriend and their three screaming
  kids face to face. I love New York. It's a great
  place.

9
Common misconceptions

• You need an AOL account to use AIM
• You have to use AOL to dial up the Internet to
  use AIM only need an Internet connection such
  as Optimum Online
• AIM client allows you around the concurrent user
  limits on the AOL software (so does v8)

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Common technical issues

• AIM addiction and overuse parents need to limit
  the number of hours online
• Does your child actually know everyone on his/her
  buddy list?
• Receiving viruses through AIM file transfer
• If you have a teen or child AOL account, they
  cant use their SN w/ AIM client
• Make sure you are running AOL v6 or later to
  migrate buddy lists

11
Common social issues

• Your childs online language can surprise you!
• Kids dont censor themselves online
• Your kids words can come back to haunt them and
  get them in trouble
• Giving out personal data inadvertently to
  strangers (Shannons story)
• Kids use AIM to copy homework

12
The danger of chat rooms

• You dont know who is really present
• The text is available to anyone and could be
  passed around without your childs knowledge or
  approval
• Things can get really raunchy or profane quickly
• Bottom line avoid them!

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(One set of) Guidelines

• Under 7 no way
• From 8-10 very limited usage and lots of pos
  and co-surfing
• From 11-14 you can try to enforce curfews
• 15 -- the battle is already lost, you have no
  control

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Some other suggestions

• Limit AIM time and hours like any other computer
  activity
• Ask whos that SN periodically
• Monitor your childs profile and away message
  periodically
• Block port 5190 on your home router if you need
  to enforce this