Spring Break
Internet Anonymity May Not Be What It Seems
Kate Slomkowski
Issue date: 10/26/05 Section: News
In the AIM privacy policy, they state that although they do not monitor individual conversations, they can use them in certain cases. "Your AIM information, including the contents of your online communications, may be accessed and disclosed in response to legal ... or in other circumstances in which AOL has a good faith belief that AIM or AOL are being used for unlawful purposes," according to the privacy policy.
"AIM shouldn't be a way to talk to friends," Perrone said. "It takes away accountability. It's easier to face someone on AIM."
Val Gorbatyuk, a 5th-semester computer science major, uses AIM to find out what his friends are doing by checking away messages.
"If you're shy, AIM is a good way to ask more intimate questions," Gorbatyuk said. "But conversations on AIM can take too long, talking on the phone is quicker and shorter."
Elsensohn uses AIM daily, however, she said excessive AIM chatting could be harmful.
"There's a difference between regular conversations and conversation over the internet," Elsensohn said. "You use a different style of language and you're more curt. The more you use one form of communication, the less adept you get at the other."
Elsensohn said one of her biggest AIM pet peeves is when someone who lives next door will IM her rather than just coming over.
Nowak said that from her studies with computer and human communication, no one chooses one form of communication over the other.
"Online conversations that last longer than six months translates into a different mode of communication," Nowak said. "AIM is used for some things, a phone for others. The medium you choose to communication sends it's own kind of message."
Nowak said she is currently working on creating a virtual environmental for UConn students that would serve as a place to interact with other students, create study groups and play games.
"AIM shouldn't be a way to talk to friends," Perrone said. "It takes away accountability. It's easier to face someone on AIM."
Val Gorbatyuk, a 5th-semester computer science major, uses AIM to find out what his friends are doing by checking away messages.
"If you're shy, AIM is a good way to ask more intimate questions," Gorbatyuk said. "But conversations on AIM can take too long, talking on the phone is quicker and shorter."
Elsensohn uses AIM daily, however, she said excessive AIM chatting could be harmful.
"There's a difference between regular conversations and conversation over the internet," Elsensohn said. "You use a different style of language and you're more curt. The more you use one form of communication, the less adept you get at the other."
Elsensohn said one of her biggest AIM pet peeves is when someone who lives next door will IM her rather than just coming over.
Nowak said that from her studies with computer and human communication, no one chooses one form of communication over the other.
"Online conversations that last longer than six months translates into a different mode of communication," Nowak said. "AIM is used for some things, a phone for others. The medium you choose to communication sends it's own kind of message."
Nowak said she is currently working on creating a virtual environmental for UConn students that would serve as a place to interact with other students, create study groups and play games.