CONCLUSIONS AND FINDINGS

             IM use is generally characterized by three aspects: socializing, event planning, and schoolwork collaboration. The social aspects of instant messaging can have extensive ramifications, not only by increasing social interactions but by defining them on multiple levels. While student usage initially revolves around socializing and “chit-chat,” which often closely mirrors real world conversation and may be considered unproductive, as users increased in age and autonomy, their usage envelopes an array of different tasks, from casual conversation to serious discussion and work collaboration. These users will continue to maintain their high rate of messenger usage as they enter the workforce, and gradually increase its acceptance and implementation there. The implementation of instant messaging technologies into the field of education also seems promising as well, and there are a variety of mechanisms by which IM could be used to capitalize on the preexisting usage by students. Overall, considering instant messaging's ability to fulfill many of youth needs for communication and development of a social identity, it is likely that instant messaging will continue to play an increasing role in student life. As these students mature and gain freedom, they will continue to use instant messaging in their professional lives considering IM's similar capacity to facilitate effective information transfer and group collaboration. Eventually, it seems that instant messaging will become another integral and "taken-for-granted" technology such as paper, the telephone, or the automobile.