Chapter 5 Summary

I learned that internet messaging started out really simple with programs like Talk and IRC, where people just typed short messages back and forth. In the 90s, chat rooms became popular and were like the first group chats. I also didn’t know that scientists and students used IRC to share ideas. The chapter talked about old apps like ICQ, AIM, MSN Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger, which were big before messaging moved to phones and social media. Now messaging has way more than text, with pictures, voice messages, and videos.  What stood out to me is how normal it is today, with features like read receipts and online status. Overall, I learned how messaging went from something basic to one of the main ways people stay connected.