16 AIM Away Messages That Deserve to Be Museum Pieces
AIM away messages weren’t just status updates — they were digital diary entries in disguise.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Before texting and Instagram stories, AOL Instant Messenger ruled the online scene — and the away message was its crown jewel. Whether poetic, dramatic, or just plain weird, these little blurbs captured the essence of early internet life. Here are 16 unforgettable AIM away messages that belong in a time capsule (or better yet, a museum).
1. “BRB, Shower”
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Somehow, this basic update felt absolutely essential, like everyone needed to know exactly where you were — even if you were just scrubbing behind your ears.
2. “Gone to get food… leave love <3”
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Equal parts casual and flirty, this one invited interaction while you ghosted the chat. It was the passive-aggressive way to collect compliments while munching Pop-Tarts.
3. Lyrics from Dashboard Confessional
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Emo kids, rise. Whether it was “Your hair is everywhere” or something equally tear-soaked, nothing screamed *"*I’m feeling things" like a cryptic verse.
4. “Out living life while you’re stuck online”
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Ouch, right? This message was both a flex and a dig. It tried to say, “I have a social life,” while low-key rubbing it in.
5. “Homework = death. Do not disturb.”
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Classic student energy. It announced you were suffering through algebra and didn’t want to talk — unless it was something more interesting than the Pythagorean theorem.
6. “I’m not ignoring you… just avoiding everyone else.”
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The ultimate middle finger to the rest of your buddy list. This told your inner circle they were special, without having to say it directly.
7. “At soccer practice, txt the cell.”
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AIM etiquette required you to include backup contact info. This one screamed suburban teen with a flip phone.
8. “Leave a message after the tone… beep”
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Corny? Yes. Timeless? Also yes. It was a bit of humor that broke the digital ice. It made the chat feel like voicemail, which somehow felt futuristic back then.
9. “~thinking of you~”
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Decorated with stars, squiggles, and tildes, this was the AIM version of a glitter-covered love note. It hinted at a crush without naming names.
10. “If you really knew me, you’d know where I am…”
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Mysterious, moody, and borderline manipulative. This cryptic gem turned every away message into a romantic guessing game.
11. “Offline, but always watching 👀”
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Equal parts creepy and clever, this made people think twice before trash-talking behind their away message, a reminder that AIM’s presence was never truly absent.
12. “Too cool for AIM, hit up MySpace”
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Nothing said you were evolving quite like jumping platforms. This message was pure digital clout. It signaled you’d moved on to animated profiles and autoplay songs.
13. “Can’t talk, watching TRL”
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A cultural snapshot if there ever was one. Carson Daly had our full attention, and nothing — not even your BFF — could interrupt that.
14. “Away but dreaming of summer”
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Equal parts wistful and dramatic, this message usually popped up in February. It added a poetic flair to your online absence.
15. “On the phone—don’t be jealous”
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This was a humblebrag in digital form. This let everyone know you were popular and unavailable. It wasn’t just an away message — it was a flex.
16. “Gone… but not forgotten.”
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Melodrama was the fuel of every AIM user. Whether you were off to dinner or sulking in your room, this message added a theatrical flair.