AIM

did you know?

AOL Instant Messenger was released in 1997 and created the internet culture we know today. Users were thrilled to communicate instantly with friends and family whenever the mood struck them. It’s where many people became fluent in emoticons and LMAO-ing. At its peak in 2001, AIM had 36 million users, some of whom were Zetas, who discovered the fun of AIM handles and sisters’ away messages.

Marissa Veal Baptista

Theta Chi Chapter, George Mason University

Since cell phones were rare in the late ‘90s for college students, we spent hours in the computer labs on the George Mason University campus messaging with one another. We still use our AIM handles today as inside jokes when communicating with one another almost 30 years later!

Corrine “Cori”

Ann Williams

Gamma Alpha Chapter, University of Miami

Well, first of all, my AIM screen name was “ZTAPrincess2004,” so right off the bat, I made it clear where my allegiances lay. Second, I remember having my AIM friends listed in categories, with “ZTA Princesses” at the top, so I could always be sure to check their away messages first. Ah, the good ol’ days. Such fond memories!