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Message |
    
shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 340
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 2:47 pm: | 
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At what age do kids start IMing? Being the age I am, I have never done it, never seen it. But I know we'll need to have that capability at home sometime soon. Am I going to have to get new software? We don't have AOL. Please don't tell me I'll have to get AOL. |
NCJanow(akaLibraryLady)
Citizen
Username: Librarylady
Post Number: 1114
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 2:55 pm: |
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http://www.aim.com/
You can download the necessary software from this site.
NCJ aka LibraryLady
On a coffee break..or something like it.
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Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 513
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 3:09 pm: |
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MSN and Yahoo have IM programs that work well. One of them is compatable with AOL but I don't know what one. |
1-2many
Citizen
Username: Wbg69
Post Number: 742
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 3:19 pm: |
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what age? my 14yo does it ALL the time. I guess she started a year or two ago. don't know if this is the standard age, but maybe my experience helps you figure that out. |
ReallyTrying
Citizen
Username: Reallytrying
Post Number: 195
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 3:19 pm: |
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My three kids each started at about age 8. If you're interested, there's a little program called DeadAIM - it used to be free; now, I think it costs all of $3 - that allows you to read transcripts of other users AIM sessions. |
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 832
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 7:05 pm: |
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My 12-year-old started about a year and a half ago ... around the end of fifth grade. My 8-year-old has it, but really isn't very interested. However, she has recently started to ask about it so I think that some of her friends have it and it may start up in the next year or so. We don't have AOL, just the free AIM download. |
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 1427
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 11:10 pm: |
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My 15 year old is so addicted, I limit her to an hour a day. Signs of addiction are: loses track of time when she's on; is irritable and beligerent if she's on for too long; will lie to get more time; can't police herself.
My 12 year old isn't interested in IM.
Tell your kid not to install any software without your permission. There's lots of evil software. And you'll have to BUY subscriptions to BOTH anti-virus and anti-spyware programs. If you can afford it, get your kid her own computer so she doesn't mess yours up.
Another option is to install Windows XP which allows different people to be logged in at the same time. It helps a lot at home, because you can leave your windows and documents open and your kid won't disturb them. And you can give her an account with no software installation privileges.
Tom Reingold
There is nothing
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flugermongers
Citizen
Username: Flugermongers
Post Number: 61
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 9:56 pm: |
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I was of age when IMing became popular, but I have some concerns about younger children IMing. I know an 11 year old who is a computer whiz, but porn sites and such get into a link in his AIM profile, called his sub-profile. There's a lot of different stuff about AIM, and other IM services, and email and internet in general that is scary and unsafe. Things can be gotten, like your IP (internet protocol) address, and information on your computer... and different stuff depends on networks, and services, and firewalls... etc etc. I didn't grow up with IM, I don't think a kid needs it. I'm also NOT a parent. But maybe, if a kid wants IM, make sure you know who they're talking to.. like, sit with them while they're doing it? Or... there are preferences in AIM where you can block all buddies not on buddy list... so you can add just his/her friends that you know? The internet's a scary place.. and kids, and damn, everyone is curious. Everyone goes and looks for porn, or searches for illegal music downloads, or whatever. Everyone needs to know what to do, what NOT to do, what information NEVER EVER to give out... etc. I think the internet is a pretty adult thing, but I guess it all depends on you and your kids and how much you know. Or maybe I'm just babbling .
Good luck.. and if you need any specific information about stuff like this, feel free to message me. I hope I've been of some sort of help -- it's just that there's always bew stuff with this, and they should like, teach a computer course about the net... and the dangers, etc. |
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