Summary: The citizens of the internet woke up to some shocking news this morning: AIM, a pioneer in the world of online messaging, is shutting down after 20 years. The service will officially shutter on December 15, with no plans for an official replacement from Oath, the Verizon-owned company that includes both America Online and Yahoo. AIM’s Influence Is Still Relevant Today AIM was an instant hit when it launched in 1997, even if AOL never fully embraced the idea of free online messaging.
