How can I get free AIM buddy icons?

If you like to chat with your friends, you probably use some form of instant messenger. Instant messaging allows users to chat with their friends or buddies on their messaging list, sort of like email. With instant messaging, all dialogue occurs in real time, allowing users to talk to each other over the computer by typing messages back and forth. Users must have an internet connection and be signed up to the same instant messaging service to be able to chat online.

AIM, or AOL Instant Messenger, is one of the more popular service providers of instant messaging. Users sign up for this service, which is free, and then add friends who also use AIM to their contact lists via their email addresses or AIM usernames.

Part of the fun of instant messaging is making your profile personalized to you, whether it be through a creatively designed layout or a specific buddy icon. Some of AIM's appeal to its users is the ability to download buddy icons and put them on your AIM profile.

What is a buddy icon?
AIM users refer to the avatars placed on their profiles as buddy icons. Avatars are small pictures that represent the user or his or her likes and dislikes. AIM was the first instant messaging service to use buddy icons, and they are now used by other instant messaging service providers as well. Buddy icons are usually very small and can be pictures of just about anything. More popular ones include celebrities and sports figures, animals, and cartoons. Some buddy icons are even animated.

How can I get free AIM buddy icons?
In order to use AIM buddy icons, you must first have an AIM account. These are free and easily obtained by signing up for AIM at the AIM website. There is also a link to it from AOL. In order to sign up for AIM or AOL, you will fill in personal information such as your name, birth date, and gender. Then you will choose a username and password and sign a terms of service agreement.

Once you have your account, you can download free icons by doing a search on the internet. You can use "free buddy icons" or "free AIM icons" as your search, and a large number of websites will show up. You can also be much more specific, like "personalized buddy icons" or "football buddy icons" if you have something in mind already.

From there, all you have to do is browse the websites for the icon or icons you want. When you find one you like, follow the website's instructions for downloading the icon. Before you do this, however, it's a good idea to have a good firewall or anti-virus software installed in your computer. Many of these free sites are able to provide their buddy icons for free by using advertisements on their sites. Sometimes, visiting or downloaded icons from the site will place spyware or other security threats on your computer, so it's best to take precautions.

Buddy icons are a fun and free way to personalize your AIM account any way you'd like. You can find and download a wide variety of free buddy icons from a number of websites simply by doing a search on buddy icons or AIM buddy icons.