How AIM taught the internet to chat

AOL Instant Messenger revolutionized online communication in the early 2000s, becoming the internet's most important chat application despite initial resistance from company executives. AIM transformed how people connected online, allowing users to chat with friends and changing business communication, while introducing features like customizable screen names and away messages with song lyrics. Though the platform shaped multiple generations of users, AOL never successfully monetized it and eventually lost relevance to social networks and modern messaging apps.