Instant messaging (IM) allows users to have conversations that happen in real time. Most IM services offer a feature showing the user’s contacts and whether they are currently online and available to chat. This is known as a buddy list. Most systems also allow the user to set an online status or “away message” so that friends are notified when the user is available, busy, or away from the computer.

In addition to being used to communicate with friends, instant messaging has become a common method used to bully, harass, and engage a youth in a sexually explicit conversation. Sometimes IM conversations can progress so rapidly that an apparently innocent conversation turns inappropriate without much warning. For these reasons, it is important for you to discuss with your children how to use IM safely. One of the most important things to remember is that youth should only communicate with individuals they know and trust in real life. Teach your children how to block individuals who are harassing or distressing them; make them feel confident enough to notify you of the incident without fear of getting in trouble.

These instant messages are also apart of the Social Networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, etc...

The most popular standalone IM is AIM but there are many others out there Yahoo, Google, MSN, etc...

Under the Software Based Parental Controls section you can find tools to monitor or block IM.