How to Record Your Child’s Instant Message Conversations

Note: Your child can download AOL Instant Messenger free on any computer. If downloads are prohibited on the computer, AOL provides AIM Express, a Web-based service for Instant Messaging. Also, instant messages can be sent to mobile phones and other mobile devices.

AIM (AOL Instant Messenger)
Directions for Macintosh Version

1. Launch AOL Instant Messenger and click on AIM in the menu bar at the top, and then scroll down to select PREFERENCES.
2. Click on EVENT ACTIONS.
3. Click on SIGNING ON, one of the items in the list of Events, and then click the button EDIT EVENT ACTIONS.
   1. Put a checkmark in the box for “Writing to log file “AIM Activity Log” and then click SAVE.
4. Click on the following Events and repeat the directions in step 3:
   1. Signing Off
   2. Buddy signed On
   3. Buddy Signed Off
   4. You’ve Got Mail
   5. Instant Message Proposal Received
   6. Direct Instant Message Proposal Received
   7. Direct Instant Message Proposal Sent
   8. Initial Instant Message Received
   9. Subsequent Instant Message Received
   10. Instant Message Sent (be sure to do this one)
   11. Chat Invite Received
   12. Chat Invite Sent
   13. Chat Message Received
   14. Chat Message Sent
       (Optional: Repeat for remaining items on list.)

Now, to read the logs of your child’s Instant Messaging Activities, open the following folders on your hard drive:

Library > Logs > AIM

Optional: You can Select ALL of the text in the window of the log, then COPY and PASTE the text to your word processor. Once it is in the word processor, you can highlight all of the text and change the font color to BLACK.

Also, you can change where AIM stores the logs by going to:

AIM > Preferences > Folders (you might need to scroll to the right to see the folder icon)

IMPORTANT: Your child can change these settings as easily as you can. You will need to keep a check on them.

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