Blog #5 - EOTO (Instant Messaging)

            Instant Messaging or IM technology, as it is often referred to, was first introduced to the masses more than thirty (30) years ago in 1990. Before the introduction of instant messaging, people had to rely on telephones and mail to communicate, which often created problems because of time lags in important situations. This was especially true in business and government settings which led to the creation of a cutting-edge concept that was first utilized in the 1960s when multi-user operating systems began to emerge, which would allow real-time instant messaging for up to thirty (30) individuals at one time. This technology paved the way for the development of instant messaging platforms. 

“IM was invented in 1971 as a chat function on a government computer network. American computer scientist Murray Turoff created IM as part of the Emergency Management Information Systems and Reference Index (EMISARI) for the Office of Emergency Preparedness” (Brittanica). However, it wasn’t until 1992, that the very first SMS message was sent, which was a “Merry Christmas” wish sent in the United Kingdom. Less than ten years later, as we rolled into the twenty-first century, instant messaging took the world by storm with 30 million IMs being sent per month in 2001, in the United States alone. LinkedIn, My Space, and Facebook, some of the first major social media platforms began competing against one another to take hold of the instant messaging world. A mere five years later the number of instant messages sent skyrocketed to 12.5 billion per month in the United States, with the introduction of Twitter and the ability to “tweet.” This unprecedented growth and rise in popularity of

digital communication clearly demonstrates the impact that immediate chatting had on society.  These networks created the ability for people to communicate quickly, regardless of their proximity to one another. However, it wasn’t until the introduction of WhatsApp in 2009 that all distances could be transcended and the world became connected in a whole new way, making it possible to communicate with anyone, anywhere, anytime, as long as both parties “downloaded the app.” 

The world of instant messaging has continued to develop far beyond just simple written messages. When Snapchat was introduced in 2011, a whole new world of instant messaging that included visual images emerged, and platforms such as Zoom, introduced in 2013, took the visual images a whole step further by making video chatting possible, whether on the business front or personally.  The emergence of this revolutionary technology undoubtedly changed not only the course of history but also rewrote some of the basic principles of communication altogether by annihilating long-standing boundaries and opening up a whole new world of instantaneous global communication. The ease and availability of instant communication has, however, had a negative impact on people’s ability to interact with one another in person. This is especially true with younger generations who have had access to this type of technology their entire lives. In addition, relying on written communication opens up a world that can sometimes be filled with miscommunication and misinterpretation leading to many problems that can be circumvented when people communicate verbally or in person.  Regardless, the negative effects of instant messaging technology do not outweigh the positive impact of instant communication that circumvents time and distance, so figuring out how to deal with these negative impacts should be the next avenue to travel down.