But let's be real: for horny teens, AIM was the original dating app. Even if we don't use it anymore, we're sad to see it laid to rest.
The little lurch of getting a new Tinder match is nothing compared to the joy and excitement of hearing AIM's familiar ping and seeing a "sup" from your crush at school. It was a way to talk to the girl you couldn't look in the eyes in math class from the comfort of your home, in the hopes that someday enough ";)" might lead to an actual date. (Need some new tips for pleasing a woman? This online course from Men's Health has you covered.)
TJ Miller Explains Some Apps That Don't Exist:
AIM also brought the possibility of making a connection with a teen the next town or next timezone over (with the risks of encountering creepy adults, of course). "A/S/L?" was a catch-all greeting that told you a person's age, sex, and location. It didn't matter whether or not an actual meet-up was in order; AIM was exciting because of the possibility of sex or love that it implied.
"AIM tapped into new digital technologies and ignited a cultural shift, but the way in which we communicate with each other has profoundly changed," the company said in a statement about the service's shutdown.
The teens who used AIM have now become app-using adults. We all have personal profiles that are groomed, curated, and analyzed en mass by artificial intelligence and prospective sex-buddies alike. Dating apps aren't perfect, but in a world where one tap or swipe can set you up on a date, there's something we miss about AIM's culture of nervous chatting.
All good things come to an end. On Dec 15, we'll bid farewell to AIM. Thank you to all our users! #AIMemories https://t.co/b6cjR2tSuU pic.twitter.com/V09Fl7EPMx
— AIM (@aim) October 6, 2017
AIM will shut down on December 15, but its legacy of emoticons, ASCII art, and young love will live forever.