Even for those of us who didn’t experience it firsthand, the cultural impact of dial-up internet is undeniable. Even more so is the former holder of the consumer internet monopoly: AOL, or America Online. The company made a statement that dial-up services, as well as the associated dialer and browser, will be discontinued on September 30th.
Domination To Decline: A History
AOL rose to popularity in the early 90s, as the first to provide internet in the home to people besides college students. The popularity of the web skyrocketed, and quickly, AOL had more users than it could easily handle. This is why, although they were the most popular internet provider in 2002, the company’s user base plateaued post-2000 (Y2K).
As markets crashed in the 2000s, AOL lost dominance among users. This, along with some controversial business deals/mergers and the emergence of high-speed internet lines, led to a downsizing of the company. Its instant messenger, or AIM, shutdown in 2017. AOL had over 2 million users in 2015, but the company has not provided an update in the wake of the shutdown.
Although AOL makes up 0.1% of internet subscriptions these days, that is still hundreds of thousands of households that never switched over from the cheaper, older dial-up. Although other companies provide dial-up services, this is a major disruption for people across North America, especially those in rural areas who don’t have access to faster lines. For many in higher-traffic areas, however, the news of the shutdown also alerted them that dial-up is still an option.
Accessibility issues aside, the AOL shutdown gives major nostalgia pangs for 90s babies and Y2K baddies. The dial-up sound and AIM ringtone are iconic and ingrained in the cultural lexicon of generations beyond their actual lifespan. As a movie fan, my personal favorite moment that comes to mind is the 1998 rom-com You’ve Got Mail . The couple, played by Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, falls in love via AOL chatroom. The story has more lasting power today than we could have expected.
AOL was clear that the decision came from an evaluation of what people want and need—and dial-up isn’t it. The slow speeds aren’t compatible with the modern internet, which is a shame for those of us who yearn for the slower, simpler times. Although dial-up will be missed on many of our desktop computer screens, it will always be plugged into our hearts.
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