Who’s doing it?Large and growing numbers of teens—today’s and tomorrow’s college students—are regular users of IM, both as a personal communication tool and, in some cases, for educational initiatives in high school. As IM matures into an accepted means of communication, and as ever-larger numbers of students arrive on campus as seasoned IM users, colleges and universities are adding IM to campus functions ranging from recruiting and admissions to teaching and support. Some institutional libraries have set up online reference desks with IM applications, and faculty have begun using the technology to facilitate virtual office hours. For many current and prospective students, IM is becoming the preferred mode of contact with recruiters and admissions staff, the registrar’s office, and academic advisors.How does it work?Functionality ranges widely for IM applications, but typically users log in to a service with a screen name or ID. Most IM applications notify users when others join or leave, and many allow users to indicate their status, such as “away from desk” or “in a meeting.”Once logged in, you can send messages to individuals or join IM sessions. Most IM windows include an area where messages are displayed chronologically and a composition box where messages are typed. Composition boxes usually allow basic formatting of text, and most let you add images, multimedia files, or other attachments.When someone types an instant message, the chat client indicates that a message is being composed. When the messageis sent, it pops up on your screen in front of other applications.