--- title: Aim Dying Inspired the Funniest Reactions and Memes description: AOL's iconic instant messaging service is going the way of the dodo on Dec. 15 — and some are remembering its quirks fondly. canonical: https://time.com/4972583/aim-ending-reactions/ author: Raisa Bruner article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-10-06T16:57:18.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-08T09:55:53.117Z og:title: AIM Is Signing Off Forever. Internet Instantly Has Feelings. og:description: Screen names — and your childhood — are over. og:url: https://time.com/4972583/aim-ending-reactions/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6c9d6163d7405628/6988e0d7096a944e8069fe1c/aol-instant-messenger-icon.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3920 og:image:height: 2205 og:image:alt: AOL Buys Huffington Post For $315 Million To Rekindle Ad-Revenue Growth og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: AIM Is Signing Off Forever. Internet Instantly Has Feelings. twitter:description: Screen names — and your childhood — are over. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6c9d6163d7405628/6988e0d7096a944e8069fe1c/aol-instant-messenger-icon.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # AIM Is Officially Signing Off Forever. The Internet Instantly Had So Many Hilarious Feelings. > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME In the Loop: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition In the Loop is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution. In the Loop makes sense of the ideas and technologies transforming how organizations operate, compete and communicate, with essential reporting, analysis, scoops and exclusive conversations. Through TIME's reporting and access to leading voices, readers get a clearer view of the developments shaping AI, technology and the rapidly changing decisions facing leaders today. 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It covers the reporting, scoops and conversations shaping AI and the decisions facing leaders. #### Where can I get reported AI news rather than commentary? In the Loop is TIME's AI newsletter, built on original reporting and access to the people building and governing AI. It publishes Tuesdays and Fridays and is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Who writes TIME's In the Loop? Harry Booth, a tech reporter at TIME, writes In the Loop. #### Is In the Loop free? Yes. In the Loop is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-loop-2026q3/newsletters?i=f2d200d2-28c8-4457-a427-ee4be79b9db9&cr=time-nl-loop-2026q3-v1) ## Video: AOL Instant Messenger Is Shutting Down [Watch (HLS stream): AOL Instant Messenger Is Shutting Down](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/yJtlu9zP.m3u8) (0:59)  _Published 2017-10-06. Loyal AIM users are sad._  by [Raisa Bruner](https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/)  ## Raisa Bruner Oct 6, 2017 4:57 PM UTC Loyal AIM users are sad.  by [Raisa Bruner](https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/)  ## Raisa Bruner Oct 6, 2017 4:57 PM UTC Your childhood is over. AIM — AOL’s instant messaging service, which predated today’s [Facebook Messenger](http://time.com/4503176/google-allo-vs-imessage-vs-facebook-messenger/), Snapchat, iMessage, [Slack](http://time.com/money/4901549/you-should-be-paranoid-about-your-company-monitoring-slack/) and so many other forms of chat — is officially shutting down and signing off forever on December 15, it [announced Friday,](https://twitter.com/aim/status/916290747850264577) after 20 years in operation. A generation of internet users were introduced to the concept of socializing through a (desktop) screen thanks to AIM, with its iconic “Buddy List,” emo, song-lyric-laden away messages, and a minimalist profile page that let kids (and adults) craft a virtual persona full of inside jokes and [Comic Sans](http://time.com/3520405/comic-sans-typewriter/) font use. AIM was also a great place to develop a chill relationship with your middle school crush, who you could casually hit with a “Sup?” in the after-school hours. Of course, the internet is not letting AIM die in silence. No, people are really letting their feelings out about this ending era. From the memorable sounds the app played to the screen names that defined identities to the now-ubiquitous online shorthand that it spawned (g2g! idk! brb! nm, jc! LOL), here’s how AIM is getting memorialized. > [](https://twitter.com/juliareinstein/status/916321798580572160) > [](https://twitter.com/sakelfc/status/916318925666709504) > [](https://twitter.com/faintestofheart/status/916325951440637952) > [](https://twitter.com/CMooreHere/status/916326283038134272) > [](https://twitter.com/BarstoolNate/status/916319286473392129) > [](https://twitter.com/TheMixedOne24/status/916324059612188672) > [](https://twitter.com/LuvmeKrazy/status/916322885362438144) > [](https://twitter.com/cultofbednar/status/916324103895654400) > [](https://twitter.com/JessDayGeorge/status/916326800141180931) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4972583/aim-ending-reactions/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4972583/aim-ending-reactions/"},"headline":"AIM Is Officially Signing Off Forever. 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