That Parent-Child Conversation Is Becoming Instant, and Online

That Parent-Child Conversation Is Becoming Instant, and Online: "Instant messaging, long a part of teenagers' lives, is working its way into the broader fabric of the American family. The technology 'has really grown up in the last 18 months,' said Michael Gartenberg, vice president and research director at Jupiter Research. 'It's certainly not just for kids anymore.'
Almost three-quarters of all teenagers with online access use instant messaging and about half of all adults have tried the services, surveys show. Adults, who generally began using the services from AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo to stay in touch with co-workers during the day, Mr. Gartenberg said, are saying 'this stuff I'm using for work is actually useful in my personal life as well.'"