View source for AOL

{{Short description|American internet portal}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Pp|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = AOL
| logo = AOL logo (2024).svg
| former_names = {{unbulleted list|Control Video Corporation (1983–1985)|Quantum Computer Services (1985–1991)|America Online (1991–2009)|[[WarnerMedia|AOL Time Warner]] (2001–2003)}}
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| traded_as = {{NYSE was|AOL}}
| foundation = {{unbulleted list|{{Start date and age|1983}} (as Control Video Corporation)|{{start date and age|2009}} (as AOL Inc.)}}
| founders = {{unbulleted list||[[Marc Seriff]]|[[Steve Case]]|[[Jim Kimsey]]|[[William von Meister]]}}
| hq_location = [[770 Broadway]]
| hq_location_city = New York City
| hq_location_country = U.S.
{{Coord|40.7308|-73.9914|type:landmark_region:US-NY|display=title,inline}}
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = 
| services = Web portal and online services
| num_employees = 5,600
| owner = 
| parent = {{unbulleted list|[[Time Warner]] (2001–2009)|[[Verizon Communications]] (2015–2021)|[[Yahoo! Inc. (2017–present)|Yahoo! Inc.]] (2021–present)}} (sale to [[Bending Spoons]] pending)
| homepage = {{official URL}}
}}

'''AOL''' (formerly a company known as '''AOL Inc.''' and originally known as '''America Online''')<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Hosch |first=William L. |last2=Tikkanen |first2=Amy |date=2021-11-18 |title=AOL |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/AOL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522132909/https://www.britannica.com/topic/AOL |archive-date=May 22, 2023 |access-date=2023-05-02 |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |language=en}}</ref> is an American [[web portal]] and [[online service provider]] based in New York City, and a brand marketed by [[Yahoo! Inc. (2017–present)|Yahoo! Inc.]]

The service traces its history to an online service known as [[PlayNET]]. PlayNET licensed its software to [[Quantum Link]] (Q-Link), which went online in November 1985. A new [[IBM PC–compatible|IBM PC]] client was launched in 1988, and eventually renamed as America Online (abbreviated as AOL) in 1989. AOL grew to become the largest online service, displacing established players like [[CompuServe]] and [[The Source (online service)|The Source]]. By 1995, AOL had about three million active users.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Nollinger |first=Matt |date=September 1, 1995 |title=America, Online! |url=https://www.wired.com/1995/09/aol-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022022202/https://www.wired.com/1995/09/aol-2/ |archive-date=October 22, 2018 |access-date=October 25, 2018 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

AOL was at one point the most recognized brand on the Web in the United States. AOL once provided a [[Dial-up Internet access|dial-up Internet]] service to millions of Americans and pioneered [[instant messaging]] and [[chat room]]s with [[AIM (software)|AOL Instant Messenger]] (AIM). In 1998, AOL purchased [[Netscape]] for US$4.2 billion. By 2000, AOL was providing internet service to over 20 million consumers, dominating the market of [[Internet service provider]]s (ISPs).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bule |first=Guise |date=2020-03-31 |title=A Short History of the Internet |url=https://itsec.group/blog-post-short-history-of-the-internet.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218203447/https://itsec.group/blog-post-short-history-of-the-internet.html |archive-date=February 18, 2024 |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=ITSEC}}</ref> In 2001, at the height of its popularity, it purchased the media conglomerate [[Time Warner]] in the largest merger in US history. AOL shrank rapidly thereafter, partly due to the decline of [[Dial-up Internet access|dial-up]] and rise of [[broadband]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lever |first=Rob |date=May 12, 2015 |title=Verizon Buys Faded Internet Pioneer AOL for $4.4 Bn |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-verizon-buys-faded-internet-pioneer-aol-for-4.4-bn-2015-5?IR=T |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627202125/http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-verizon-buys-faded-internet-pioneer-aol-for-4.4-bn-2015-5?IR=T |archive-date=Jun 27, 2018 |website=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref>

AOL was [[Corporate spin-off|spun off]] from Time Warner in 2009, with [[Tim Armstrong (executive)|Tim Armstrong]] appointed the new CEO. Under his leadership, the company invested in media brands and advertising technologies. In 2015, AOL was acquired by [[Verizon Communications]] for $4.4&nbsp;billion,<ref name="buyout-cnbc">{{Cite news |last=Imbert |first=Fred |date=May 12, 2015 |title=Verizon to Buy AOL for $4.4B; AOL Shares Soar |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/05/12/verizon-to-buy-aol-for-44-billion.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703103324/https://www.cnbc.com/id/102670331 |archive-date=July 3, 2015 |access-date=May 12, 2015 |publisher=[[CNBC]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sawers |first=Paul |date=June 23, 2015 |title=Verizon Completes $4.4B Acquisition of AOL |url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/06/23/verizon-completes-4-4b-acquisition-of-aol/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623184318/http://venturebeat.com/2015/06/23/verizon-completes-4-4b-acquisition-of-aol/ |archive-date=June 23, 2015 |access-date=June 23, 2015 |work=VentureBeat}}</ref> and was merged with [[Yahoo! Inc. (2017–present)|Yahoo!]] the following year after the latter was also acquired by Verizon.

In May 2021, Verizon announced it would sell Yahoo and thus AOL to private equity firm [[Apollo Global Management]] for $5 billion,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Valinsky |first=Jordan |date=May 3, 2021 |title=Verizon Offloads Yahoo and AOL in $5 Billion Deal |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/03/media/verizon-yahoo-sold-apollo/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503151836/https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/03/media/verizon-yahoo-sold-apollo/index.html |archive-date=May 3, 2021 |access-date=May 3, 2021 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref> and the sale was completed at the end of August.<ref>{{cite news | last=Mihalcik | first=Carrie | url=https://www.cnet.com/news/yahoo-officially-has-a-new-owner-again/ | title=Yahoo has a new owner, again | work=[[CNET]] | date=September 1, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/09/01/2290243/0/en/Apollo-Funds-Complete-Acquisition-of-Yahoo.html | title=Apollo Funds Complete Acquisition of Yahoo | publisher=[[Globe Newswire]] | date=September 1, 2021}}</ref>

In October 2025, Apollo reached a $1.5 billion deal to sell AOL to the Italian conglomerate [[Bending Spoons]].<ref name="buyout axios">{{cite news |last1=Fischer |first1=Sara |title=AOL to be sold to Bending Spoons for roughly $1.5B |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/10/29/aol-bending-spoons-deal |access-date=29 October 2025 |work=Axios |date=29 October 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Iain |title=AOL Has A New Italian Owner: Unicorn Startup Bending Spoons|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/iainmartin/2025/10/29/aol-has-a-new-italian-owner-unicorn-startup-bending-spoons/|access-date=2025-11-06|work=Forbes |date=29 October 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
=== 1983–1991: early years ===
AOL began in 1983, as a short-lived venture called '''Control Video Corporation''' ('''CVC'''), founded by [[William von Meister]]. Its sole product was an online service called [[GameLine]] for the [[Atari 2600]] video game console, after von Meister's idea of buying music on demand was rejected by [[Warner Bros.]]<ref name="Klein2003">{{Cite book |last=Klein |first=Alec |url=https://archive.org/details/stealingtimestev00klei |title=Stealing Time: Davin, Quinton, and the Collapse of AOL Time Warner |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-7432-5984-2 |location=New York |url-access=registration}}</ref> Subscribers bought a [[modem]] from the company for $49.95 and paid a one-time $15 setup fee. GameLine permitted subscribers to temporarily download games and keep track of high scores, at a cost of $1 per game.<ref name="history">{{Cite news |last=David Lumb |date=May 12, 2015 |title=A Brief History of AOL |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3046194/a-brief-history-of-aol |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923113645/https://www.fastcompany.com/3046194/a-brief-history-of-aol |archive-date=September 23, 2017 |access-date=May 12, 2015 |work=Fast Company}}</ref> The telephone disconnected and the downloaded game would remain in GameLine's Master Module, playable until the user turned off the console or downloaded another game.

In January 1983, [[Steve Case]] was hired as a marketing consultant for Control Video on the recommendation of his brother, investment banker Dan Case. In May 1983, [[Jim Kimsey]] became a manufacturing consultant for Control Video, which was near bankruptcy. Kimsey was brought in by his West Point friend [[Frank Caufield]], an investor in the company.<ref name="Klein2003" /> In early 1985, von Meister left the company.<ref name="Warner">{{Cite book |last=Charles Warner |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SAyvNo881tcC |title=Media Selling: Television, Print, Internet, Radio |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-4443-5927-5}}</ref>

On May 24, 1985, '''Quantum Computer Services''', an online services company, was founded by Kimsey from the remnants of Control Video, with Kimsey as [[chief executive officer]] and [[Marc Seriff]] as [[chief technology officer]]. The technical team consisted of Seriff, Tom Ralston, Ray Heinrich, Steve Trus, Ken Huntsman, Janet Hunter, Dave Brown, Craig Dykstra, Doug Coward, and Mike Ficco. In 1987, Case was promoted again to executive vice-president. Kimsey soon began to groom Case to take over the role of CEO, which he did when Kimsey retired in 1991.<ref name="Warner" />

Kimsey changed the company's strategy, and in 1985, launched a dedicated online service for [[Commodore 64]] and [[Commodore 128|128]] computers, originally called [[Quantum Link]] ("Q-Link" for short).<ref name="history" /> The Quantum Link software was based on software licensed from [[PlayNET|PlayNet, Inc]]., which was founded in 1983 by Howard Goldberg and Dave Panzl. The service was different from other online services as it used the computing power of the Commodore 64 and the [[Apple II]] rather than just a "dumb" terminal. It passed tokens back and forth and provided a fixed-price service tailored for home users. In May 1988, Quantum and [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] launched [[AppleLink]] Personal Edition for Apple II<ref>{{Triangulation|201|Peter Friedman}}</ref> and [[Mac (computer)|Macintosh]] computers. In August 1988, Quantum launched PC Link, a service for [[IBM]]-compatible [[IBM PC–compatible|PCs]] developed in a joint venture with the [[Tandy Corporation]]. After the company parted ways with Apple in October 1989, Quantum changed the service's name to America Online.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 20, 2006 |title=Industrial Era (1985–1990) |url=http://www.thocp.net/timeline/1989.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051103111647/http://www.thocp.net/timeline/1989.htm |archive-date=November 3, 2005 |access-date=September 24, 2005 |website=The History of Computing Project}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Weyhrich |first=Steven |date=December 31, 2002 |title=Telecommunications |url=http://apple2history.org/history/ah22.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050828233812/http://apple2history.org/history/ah22.html |archive-date=August 28, 2005 |access-date=September 24, 2005 |website=Apple II History}}</ref> Case promoted and sold AOL as the online service for people unfamiliar with computers, in contrast to [[CompuServe]], which was well established in the technical community.<ref name="Warner" />

From the beginning, AOL included [[online game]]s in its mix of products; many classic and casual games were included in the original PlayNet software system. The company introduced many innovative online interactive titles and games, including:
* Graphical chat environments [[Habitat (video game)|''Habitat'']] (1986–1988) from [[LucasArts]].
* The first online interactive fiction series [[QuantumLink Serial]] by [[Tracy Reed (writer)|Tracy Reed]] (1988).
* ''[[Stormfront Studios|Quantum Space]]'', the first fully automated [[play-by-mail game]] (1989–1991).

=== 1991–1999: Internet age ===
[[File:America Online logo.svg|thumb|left|First AOL logo as "America Online", used from 1991 to 2005]]
In February 1991, AOL for [[IBM PC compatible]]s running [[MS-DOS]] was launched using a [[GEOS (16-bit operating system)#GeoWorks Ensemble|GeoWorks]] interface; it was followed a year later by AOL for [[Windows 3.0]].<ref name="history" /> This coincided with growth in pay-based online services, like [[Prodigy (online service)|Prodigy]], [[CompuServe]], and [[GEnie]].

During the early 1990s, the average subscription lasted for about 25 months and accounted for $350 in total revenue. Advertisements invited modem owners to "Try America Online FREE", promising free software and trial membership.<ref name="aol199408">{{Cite magazine |date=August 1994 |title=Own a Modem? |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=121 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102213537/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=121 |archive-date=January 2, 2018 |access-date=January 1, 2018 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=117–118}}</ref> AOL discontinued [[Quantum Link|Q-Link]] and PC Link in late 1994. In September 1993, AOL added [[Usenet]] access to its features.<ref>{{Cite web |title=September That Never Ended |url=http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/S/September-that-never-ended.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716182451/http://catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/S/September-that-never-ended.html |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |access-date=July 8, 2011 |website=Catb.org}}</ref> This is commonly referred to as the "[[Eternal September]]", as Usenet's cycle of new users was previously dominated by smaller numbers of college and university freshmen gaining access in September and taking a few weeks to acclimate. This also coincided with a new "carpet bombing" marketing campaign by CMO [[Jan Brandt]] to distribute as many free trial AOL trial disks as possible through nonconventional distribution partners. At one point, 50% of the [[Compact disc|CD]]s produced worldwide had an AOL logo.<ref name="tc">{{Cite web |last=Siegler |first=MG |date=December 27, 2010 |title=How Much Did It Cost AOL to Send Us Those CDs in the 90s? "A Lot!," Says Steve Case |url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/12/27/aol-discs-90s/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323072451/https://techcrunch.com/2010/12/27/aol-discs-90s/ |archive-date=March 23, 2019 |access-date=March 4, 2017 |website=TechCrunch}}</ref> AOL quickly surpassed [[GEnie]], and by the mid-1990s, it passed Prodigy (which for several years allowed AOL advertising) and [[CompuServe]].<ref name="Warner" /> In November 1994, AOL purchased Booklink for its web browser, to give its users web access.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lewis, Peter |date=1994-11-10 |title=America Online Buys 2 Internet Companies |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/10/business/america-online-buys-2-internet-companies.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903181426/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/10/business/america-online-buys-2-internet-companies.html |archive-date=September 3, 2020 |access-date=July 1, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In 1996, AOL replaced Booklink with a browser based on Internet Explorer, reportedly in exchange for inclusion of AOL in Windows.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hu |first=Jim |date=2002-01-02 |title=AOL Exec Details Choosing IE |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/aol-exec-details-choosing-ie/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701024844/https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/aol-exec-details-choosing-ie/ |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |access-date=July 1, 2022 |publisher=[[CNET]]}}</ref>

AOL launched services with the [[National Education Association]], the [[American Federation of Teachers]], ''[[National Geographic]]'', the [[Smithsonian Institution]], the [[Library of Congress]], [[Pearson plc|Pearson]], [[Scholastic Corporation|Scholastic]], [[Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development|ASCD]], [[National School Boards Association|NSBA]], NCTE, [[Discovery Communications|Discovery Networks]], [[Turner Broadcasting System|Turner]] Education Services ([[CNN Newsroom]]), [[NPR]], [[The Princeton Review]], [[Stanley Kaplan]], [[Barron's Educational Series|Barron's]], [[Highlights for Kids]], the [[United States Department of Education|US Department of Education]], and many other education providers. AOL offered the first real-time homework help service (the Teacher Pager—1990; prior to this, AOL provided homework help bulletin boards), the first service by children, for children (Kids Only Online, 1991), the first online service for parents (the Parents Information Network, 1991), the first online courses (1988), the first omnibus service for teachers (the Teachers' Information Network, 1990), the first online exhibit ([[Library of Congress]], 1991), the first parental controls, and many other online education firsts.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Michael Wolff |title=Netstudy |publisher=Dell Publishing |year=1997}}</ref>

AOL purchased search engine [[WebCrawler]] in 1995, but sold it to [[Excite (web portal)|Excite]] the following year; the deal made Excite the sole search and directory service on AOL.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 25, 1996 |title=AOL Gets Excited |url=https://money.cnn.com/1996/11/25/technology/excite/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108045923/https://money.cnn.com/1996/11/25/technology/excite/ |archive-date=January 8, 2019 |access-date=January 13, 2019 |website=[[CNN]] |location=New York}}</ref> After the deal closed in March 1997, AOL launched its own branded search engine, based on Excite, called NetFind. This was renamed to AOL Search in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 5, 2007 |title=History of AOL Search |url=https://searchengineland.com/history-of-aol-search-11634 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114044601/https://searchengineland.com/history-of-aol-search-11634 |archive-date=January 14, 2019 |access-date=January 13, 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Nostalgia (7539894906).jpg|thumb|America Online 2.0 software for Microsoft Windows (1994)]]
AOL charged its users an hourly fee until December 1996,<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 27, 1997 |title=For $19.95 a Month, Unlimited Headaches for AOL |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/company/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160120100632/http://www.bloomberg.com/company/ |archive-date=2016-01-20 |website=[[Bloomberg News]]}}</ref> when the company changed to a flat monthly rate of $19.95.<ref name="history" /> During this time, AOL connections were flooded with users trying to connect, and many canceled their accounts due to constant [[busy signal]]s. A commercial was made featuring Steve Case telling people AOL was working day and night to fix the problem. Within three years, AOL's user base grew to 10&nbsp;million people. In 1995, AOL was headquartered at 8619 Westwood Center Drive in the [[Tysons, Virginia|Tysons Corner CDP]] in [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] [[Fairfax County, Virginia|Fairfax County]], Virginia in the [[Washington, D.C. metropolitan area]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 17, 2005 |title=Encyclopedia.com |url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-832840.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091119074042/http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-832840.html |archive-date=November 19, 2009 |access-date=May 7, 2009 |work=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tysons Corner CDP, Virginia |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US5179952&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110181002/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US5179952&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |archive-date=November 10, 2011 |access-date=May 7, 2009 |website=Census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> near the [[Vienna, Virginia|Town of Vienna]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sugawara |first=Sandra |date=October 13, 1994 |title=America Online to Reduce Rates; Firm Faces Subscriber Boycott, Pressure from Competitors |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/72288466.xml?dids=72288466:72288466&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+13%2C+1994&author=Sandra+Sugawara&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=America+Online+to+Reduce+Rates%3B+Firm+Faces+Subscriber+Boycott%2C+Pressure+From+Competitors&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729013454/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/72288466.xml?dids=72288466:72288466&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+13%2C+1994&author=Sandra+Sugawara&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=America+Online+to+Reduce+Rates%3B+Firm+Faces+Subscriber+Boycott%2C+Pressure+From+Competitors&pqatl=google |archive-date=July 29, 2013 |access-date=May 7, 2009 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |page=B09}}</ref>

AOL was quickly running out of room in October 1996 for its network at the Fairfax County campus. In mid-1996, AOL moved to 22000 AOL Way in [[Dulles, Virginia|Dulles]], unincorporated [[Loudoun County, Virginia|Loudoun County]], Virginia to provide room for future growth.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 8, 2008 |title=Company Overview |url=http://corp.aol.com/about-aol/company-overview |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208121604/http://corp.aol.com/about-aol/company-overview |archive-date=February 8, 2008 |website=corp.aol.com |publisher=AOL}}</ref> In a five-year landmark agreement with the most popular operating system, AOL was bundled with [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] software.<ref>{{Cite book |last=David Bank |url=https://archive.org/details/breakingwindowsh00bank |title=Breaking Windows: How Bill Gates Fumbled the Future of Microsoft |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-7432-0315-9 |page=[https://archive.org/details/breakingwindowsh00bank/page/105 105] |url-access=registration}}</ref>

On March 31, 1996, the short-lived [[eWorld]] was purchased by AOL. In 1997, about half of all US homes with Internet access had it through AOL.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 2014 |title=The Fall of Facebook |work=[[The Atlantic]] |page=35}}</ref> During this time, AOL's content channels, under [[Jason Seiken]], including News, Sports, and Entertainment, experienced their greatest growth as AOL become the dominant online service internationally with more than 34&nbsp;million subscribers.

On August 07, 1996, AOL experience a total outage starting at 1:00 AM PST that would last nineteen hours and took over six million people offline.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CBS Evening News (YouTube) |title=1996 Flashback: AOL goes down for 19 hours |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHKGUu2gaOg}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shiver Jr. |first=Jube |last2=Los Angeles Times |orig-date=August 08, 1996 |title=Outage at AOL Pulls the Plug on 6 Million Subscribers |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-08-08-fi-32500-story.html}}</ref>

In February 1998, AOL acquired [[CompuServe]] Interactive Services (CIS) via [[WorldCom]] (later [[Verizon]]), which kept Compuware's networking business.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 2, 1998 |title=WorldCom/Compuserve Merger – Feb. 2, 1998 |url=https://www.verizon.com/about/news/worldcomcompuserve-merger-completed |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602064746/https://www.verizon.com/about/news/worldcomcompuserve-merger-completed |archive-date=June 2, 2024 |access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref>

In November 1998, AOL announced it would acquire [[Netscape]], best known for their [[Netscape (web browser)|web browser]], in a major $4.2&nbsp;billion deal.<ref name=history/> The deal closed on March 17, 1999. Another large acquisition in December 1999 was that of [[MapQuest]], for $1.1&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 22, 1999 |title=AOL Acquires MapQuest |url=https://money.cnn.com/1999/12/22/deals/aol/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007153642/http://money.cnn.com/1999/12/22/deals/aol/ |archive-date=October 7, 2008 |access-date=January 13, 2019 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

=== 2000–2008: As AOL Time Warner ===
[[File:AOL Time Warner Logo.svg|thumb|upright=1.25|left]]
In January 2000, as new broadband technologies were being rolled out around the New York City metropolitan area and elsewhere across the United States, AOL and [[Time Warner]] announced plans to merge, forming AOL Time Warner, Inc. The terms of the deal called for AOL shareholders to own 55% of the new, combined company. The deal closed on January 11, 2001. The new company was led by executives from AOL, SBI, and Time Warner. [[Gerald Levin]], who had served as CEO of Time Warner, was CEO of the new company. [[Steve Case]] served as chairman, J. Michael Kelly (from AOL) was the chief financial officer, [[Robert W. Pittman]] (from AOL) and [[Richard Parsons (businessman)|Dick Parsons]] (from Time Warner) served as co-chief operating officers.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tim Arango |date=January 10, 2010 |title=How the AOL-Time Warner Merger Went So Wrong |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/business/media/11merger.html?_r=0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122140244/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/business/media/11merger.html?_r=0 |archive-date=November 22, 2017 |access-date=February 21, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In 2002, [[Jonathan Miller (businessman)|Jonathan Miller]] became CEO of AOL.<ref name="henry2002">{{Cite news |last=Henry, Shannon |date=August 7, 2002 |title=At AOL, New Boss Largely Unknown; 'Who's Jon Miller?' Employees Ask at Dulles Offices |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-366982.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329133404/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-366982.html |archive-date=March 29, 2015 |work=[[Wash. Post]]}} ''Note: only the beginning of the news article was available, the remainder behind a paywall.''</ref> The following year, AOL Time Warner dropped the "AOL" from its name. It was the largest merger in history when completed with the combined value of the companies at $360&nbsp;billion. This value fell sharply, to as low as $120&nbsp;billion, as markets repriced AOL's valuation as a pure internet firm more modestly when combined with the traditional media and cable business. This status did not last long, and the company's value rose again within three months. By the end of that year, the tide had turned against "pure" internet companies, with many collapsing under falling stock prices, and even the strongest companies in the field losing up to 75% of their [[market value]]. The decline continued through 2001, but even with the losses, AOL was among the internet giants that continued to outperform [[brick and mortar]] companies.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bryer |first=Lanning |title=Intellectual Property Assets in Mergers and Acquisitions |last2=Seminsky |first2=Melvin |date=2002 |publisher=Wiley}}</ref>

In 2004, along with the launch of AOL 9.0 Optimized, AOL also made available the option of personalized greetings which would enable the user to hear his or her name while accessing basic functions and mail alerts, or while logging in or out. In 2005, AOL broadcast the [[Live 8]] concert live over the Internet, and thousands of users downloaded clips of the concert over the following months.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=July 29, 2006 |title=Live 8 |magazine=Billboard |page=22}}</ref> In late 2005, AOL released AOL Safety & Security Center, a bundle of [[McAfee Antivirus]], [[Computer Associates|CA]] anti-spyware, and proprietary [[Firewall (computing)|firewall]] and [[Anti-phishing software|phishing protection]] software.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jeff Bertolucci |date=July 2007 |title=Protect Your PC |journal=Kiplinger's Personal Finance}}</ref> News reports in late 2005 identified companies such as [[Yahoo!]], [[Microsoft]], and [[Google]] as candidates for turning AOL into a joint venture.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yang |first=Catherine |date=November 11, 2005 |title=Has AOL Met Its Match? |url=http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2005-11-10/has-aol-met-its-match |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102033341/http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2005-11-10/has-aol-met-its-match |archive-date=2013-01-02 |access-date=August 1, 2006 |work=[[BusinessWeek]]}}</ref> Those plans were abandoned when it was revealed on December 20, 2005, that Google would purchase a 5% share of AOL for $1&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vise |first=David |date=December 17, 2005 |title=Google to Buy 5% of AOL for $1 Billion |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2005/12/17/google-to-buy-5-of-aol-for-1-billion/651b9148-d354-4405-ad37-8afecffd15b9/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130143133/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2005/12/17/google-to-buy-5-of-aol-for-1-billion/651b9148-d354-4405-ad37-8afecffd15b9/ |archive-date=November 30, 2024 |access-date=May 23, 2024 |work=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>[[File:AOL old logo.svg|thumb|left|Former AOL logo, used from 2005 to 2009]]
On April 3, 2006, AOL announced that it would retire the full name America Online. The official name of the service became AOL, and the full name of the [[Time Warner]] subdivision became AOL [[Limited liability company|LLC]].<ref name="pr">{{Cite news |date=April 3, 2006 |title=America Online Changes Its Name to AOL |url=http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,1179447,00.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060715034643/http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0%2C20812%2C1179447%2C00.html |archive-date=July 15, 2006 |access-date=July 24, 2006}}</ref> On June 8, 2006,<ref>{{Cite press release |title=AOL Launches Free Software to Improve PC Security for All Internet Users |publisher=[[Time Warner]] |url=http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,1201969,00.html |access-date=July 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929092635/http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,1201969,00.html |archive-date=September 29, 2007}}</ref> AOL offered a new program called AOL Active Security Monitor, a diagnostic tool to monitor and rate PC security status, and recommended additional security software from AOL or [[Download.com]]. Two months later,<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 11, 2010 |title=AOL News and Broadcast Center |url=http://press.aol.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070623105247/http://press.aol.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1025 |archive-date=June 23, 2007 |access-date=July 8, 2011 |work=Press.aol.com}}</ref> AOL released [[AOL Active Virus Shield]], a free product developed by [[Kaspersky Lab]], that did not require an AOL account, only an internet email address. The [[Internet service provider|ISP]] side of [[AOL Broadband|AOL UK]] was bought by [[Carphone Warehouse]] in October 2006 to take advantage of its 100,000 [[Local-loop unbundling|LLU]] customers, making Carphone Warehouse the largest LLU provider in the UK.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 11, 2006 |title=Carphone Warehouse Buying AOL UK |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6039740.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214023813/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6039740.stm |archive-date=February 14, 2009 |access-date=April 25, 2010 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

[[File:Aol subscribers Q201-Q407.png|thumb|right|Decline in AOL US subscribers Q2 2001 – Q2 2009, with a significant drop from Q2 2006 onward]]
In August 2006, AOL announced that it would offer [[email]] accounts and software previously available only to its paying customers, provided that users accessed AOL or AOL.com through an access method not owned by AOL (otherwise known as "third party transit", "bring your own access" or "BYOA"). The move was designed to reduce costs associated with the "walled garden" business model by reducing usage of AOL-owned access points and shifting members with high-speed internet access from client-based usage to the more lucrative advertising provider AOL.com.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Jefferson |date=Aug 2, 2006 |title=AOL Scraps Fees in Bid to Keep Users |url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-08-02-aol-free_x.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831084659/https://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-08-02-aol-free_x.htm |archive-date=Aug 31, 2011 |access-date=April 9, 2012 |website=USA Today}}</ref> The change from paid to free access was also designed to slow the rate at which members canceled their accounts and defected to [[Microsoft]] [[Hotmail]], [[Yahoo!]] or other free email providers. The other free services included:<ref>{{Cite news |last=Khurana |first=Gunika |date=October 4, 2006 |title=AOL Uses Refurbished Software to Woo Customers |url=http://www.themoneytimes.com/articles/20061004/aol_uses_refurbished_software_to_woo_customers-id-101785.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110231338/http://www.themoneytimes.com/articles/20061004/aol_uses_refurbished_software_to_woo_customers-id-101785.html |archive-date=November 10, 2006 |access-date=November 11, 2006 |publisher=The Money Times}}</ref>
* AIM ([[AOL Instant Messenger]])
* AOL Video,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Video.aol.com |url=http://video.aol.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100801054139/http://video.aol.com/ |archive-date=August 1, 2010 |access-date=July 8, 2011 |website=Video.aol.com}}</ref> which featured professional content and allowed users to upload videos.
* AOL Local, comprising its CityGuide,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cityguide.aol.com |url=http://cityguide.aol.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112145711/http://cityguide.aol.com/ |archive-date=January 12, 2010 |access-date=April 25, 2014 |publisher=Cityguide.aol.com}}</ref> [[Yellow pages|Yellow Pages]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yellowpages.aol.com |url=http://yellowpages.aol.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100728230850/http://yellowpages.aol.com/ |archive-date=July 28, 2010 |access-date=July 8, 2011 |website=Yellowpages.aol.com}}</ref> and Local Search<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local.aol.com |url=http://local.aol.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://swap.stanford.edu/20090612082910/http://local.aol.com/ |archive-date=June 12, 2009 |access-date=July 8, 2011}}</ref> services to help users find local information like restaurants, local events, and directory listings.
* AOL News
* AOL My eAddress, a custom [[domain name]] for email addresses. These email accounts could be accessed in a manner similar to those of other AOL and AIM email accounts.
* Xdrive, which allowed users to back up files over the Internet.<ref name="Pogue">{{Cite news |last=Pogue |first=David |date=January 6, 2007 |title=Fewer Excuses for Not Doing a PC Backup |url=http://news.cnet.com/Fewer+excuses+for+not+doing+a+PC+backup/2100-1046_3-6147459.html?tag=nefd.lede |access-date=January 6, 2007 |work=The New York Times}} Quote: "Online backups, where files are shuttled off to the Internet for safekeeping, are suddenly becoming effortless, capacious and even free."</ref> It was acquired by AOL on August 4, 2005,<ref>{{Cite news |title=America Online, Inc. Announces Acquisition of Xdrive, Inc. |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050804005213/en/America-Online-Announces-Acquisition-Xdrive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714221905/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050804005213/en/America-Online-Announces-Acquisition-Xdrive |archive-date=July 14, 2018 |access-date=February 17, 2024 |language=en}}</ref> and closed on December 31, 2008.<ref name="shutdown">{{Cite news |title=AOL Begins Shutdown of AOL Pictures, BlueString and Xdrive |url=https://techcrunch.com/2008/10/24/aol-begins-shutdown-of-aol-pictures-bluestring-and-xdrive/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710164334/https://techcrunch.com/2008/10/24/aol-begins-shutdown-of-aol-pictures-bluestring-and-xdrive/ |archive-date=July 10, 2018 |access-date=July 14, 2018 |work=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref> It offered a free 5 [[Gigabyte|GB]] account (free [[online file storage]]) to anyone with an AOL screenname.<ref name="Pogue" /> Xdrive also provided remote backup services and 50&nbsp;GB of storage for $9.95 per month.<ref name="Pogue" />

Also in August, AOL informed its US customers of an increase in the price of its [[dial-up access]] to $25.90. The increase was part of an effort to migrate the service's remaining dial-up users to broadband, as the increased price was the same as that of its monthly [[Digital subscriber line|DSL]] access.<ref name="mills">{{Cite web |last=Mills |first=Elinor |date=February 28, 2006 |title=AOL Hanging Up on Dial-Up Customers? |url=http://news.cnet.com/AOL+hanging+up+on+dial-up+customers/2100-1025_3-6043910.html?tag=nl |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060814003308/http://news.cnet.com/AOL+hanging+up+on+dial-up+customers/2100-1025_3-6043910.html?tag=nl |archive-date=August 14, 2006 |access-date=February 13, 2021 |website=CNET}}</ref> However, AOL subsequently began offering unlimited dial-up access for $9.95 a month.<ref name="AOL">{{Cite web |title=AOL Price Plans |url=http://free.aol.com/thenewaol/plan_choice.adp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061101213626/http://free.aol.com/thenewaol/plan_choice.adp |archive-date=November 1, 2006 |access-date=November 1, 2006}}</ref>

On November 16, 2006, [[Randy Falco]] succeeded [[Jonathan Miller (businessman)|Jonathan Miller]] as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Randy Falco Is the New CEO of AOL |url=http://techwhack.co/randy-falco-aol-ceo/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231192658/https://techwhack.co/randy-falco-aol-ceo/ |archive-date=December 31, 2015 |access-date=January 10, 2015 |website=TechWhack}}</ref> In December 2006, AOL closed its last remaining call center in the United States, "taking the America out of America Online," according to industry pundits. Service centers based in [[India]] and the [[Philippines]] continue to provide customer support and technical assistance to subscribers.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stafford |first=Jim |date=December 2, 2006 |title=America Online to Close City Call Center |url=http://newsok.com/america-online-to-close-city-call-center/article/2979966 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062537/http://newsok.com/america-online-to-close-city-call-center/article/2979966 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=April 17, 2015 |work=[[The Oklahoman]]}}</ref>

[[File:AOL_770.jpg|thumb|upright|left|AOL headquarters at [[770 Broadway]] in New York City]]
On September 17, 2007, AOL announced the relocation of one of its corporate headquarters from [[Dulles, Virginia|Dulles]], Virginia to New York City<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 11, 2023 |title=The Legacy of AOL — A Look Back at the Company’s Impact Locally |url=https://www.ashburnmagazine.com/features/the-legacy-of-aol-a-look-back-at-the-companys-impact-locally/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207115945/https://www.ashburnmagazine.com/features/the-legacy-of-aol-a-look-back-at-the-companys-impact-locally/ |archive-date=December 7, 2024 |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=Ashburn Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Steel |first=Emily |date=September 17, 2007 |title=AOL Moves Headquarters to New York City |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB119003377082529719.html |access-date=September 17, 2007 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and the combination of its advertising units into a new subsidiary called Platform A. This action followed several advertising acquisitions, most notably [[Advertising.com]], and highlighted the company's new focus on advertising-driven business models. AOL management stressed that "significant operations" would remain in Dulles, which included the company's access services and modem banks.

In October 2007, AOL announced the relocation of its other headquarters from [[Loudoun County, Virginia|Loudoun County]], Virginia to New York City, while continuing to operate its Virginia offices.<ref name="GoldfarbHQMove">{{Cite news |last=Goldfarb, Zachary and Sam Diaz |date=September 18, 2007 |title=AOL Moving Executives, Headquarters to New York |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/17/AR2007091700415.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104160951/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/17/AR2007091700415.html |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |access-date=May 7, 2009 |work=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> As part of the move to New York and the restructuring of responsibilities at the Dulles headquarters complex after the Reston move, Falco announced on October 15, 2007, plans to lay off 2,000 employees worldwide by the end of 2007, beginning "immediately".<ref name="LayoffDay">{{Cite news |last=Hansell |first=Saul |date=October 15, 2007 |title=Tuesday Is Layoff Day at AOL |url=http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/15/tuesday-is-layoff-day-at-aol/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017022954/http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/15/tuesday-is-layoff-day-at-aol/ |archive-date=October 17, 2007 |access-date=October 17, 2007 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> The result was a layoff of approximately 40% of AOL's employees. Most compensation packages associated with the October 2007 layoffs included a minimum of 120 days of severance pay, 60 of which were offered in lieu of the 60-day advance notice requirement by provisions of the 1988 federal [[Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988|WARN Act]].<ref name="LayoffDay" />

By November 2007, AOL's customer base had been reduced to 10.1&nbsp;million subscribers,<ref name="custBase">{{Cite news |last=Rosencrance |first=Linda |date=November 8, 2007 |title=AOL Revenue, Subscribers Plummet |url=http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9046103&intsrc=news_ts_head |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117090816/http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9046103&intsrc=news_ts_head |archive-date=November 17, 2007 |access-date=November 12, 2007 |publisher=ComputerWorld}}</ref> slightly more than the number of subscribers of [[Comcast]] and [[AT&T Yahoo!]]. According to Falco, as of December 2007, the conversion rate of accounts from paid access to free access was more than 80%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AOL (TWX): Randy Falco's Year-End Love Note to AOLers |url=http://www.alleyinsider.com/2007/12/aol-twx-randy-falcos-yearend-love-note-to-aolers.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218120637/http://www.alleyinsider.com/2007/12/aol-twx-randy-falcos-yearend-love-note-to-aolers.html |archive-date=December 18, 2007 |access-date=December 18, 2007}}</ref>

On January 3, 2008, AOL announced the closing of its [[Reston, Virginia]], data center, which was sold to [[CRG West]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 3, 2008 |title=CRG West Announces the Acquisition of Data Center in Reston, Virginia |url=http://www.crgwest.com/PDFs/12100_Sunrise_Press_Release.pdf |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217094718/http://www.crgwest.com/PDFs/12100_Sunrise_Press_Release.pdf |archive-date=December 17, 2008 |access-date=November 16, 2008}}</ref> On February 6, Time Warner CEO [[Jeff Bewkes]] announced that Time Warner would divide AOL's internet-access and advertising businesses, with the possibility of later selling the internet-access division.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Time Warner Will Split AOL: Financial News – Yahoo! Finance |url=http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080206/earns_time_warner.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207234015/http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080206/earns_time_warner.html |archive-date=February 7, 2008 |work=biz.yahoo.com}}</ref>

On March 13, 2008, AOL purchased the social networking site [[Bebo]] for $850 million (£417 million).<ref>{{Cite news |title=AOL Acquires Bebo Social Network |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7294174.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315021921/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7294174.stm |archive-date=March 15, 2008 |url-status=live |work=[[BBC]]}}</ref> On July 25, AOL announced that it was shuttering Xdrive, AOL Pictures and BlueString to save on costs and focus on its core advertising business.<ref name="shutdown" /> AOL Pictures was closed on December 31. On October 31, [[AOL Hometown]] (a web-hosting service for the websites of AOL customers) and the AOL Journal blog hosting service were eliminated.<ref>{{Cite web |title=We're Closing Our Doors |url=http://www.peopleconnectionblog.com/2008/09/30/were-closing-our-doors/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028165439/http://www.peopleconnectionblog.com/2008/09/30/were-closing-our-doors/ |archive-date=October 28, 2008 |website=PeopleConnectionBlog.com |publisher=AOL}}</ref>

=== 2009–2015: As an independent digital media company ===
[[File:AOL logo.svg|thumb|left|Former AOL logo, used from 2009 to 2024]]
On March 12, 2009, [[Tim Armstrong (executive)|Tim Armstrong]], formerly with [[Google]], was named chairman and CEO of AOL.<ref>[http://corp.aol.com/2009/03/12/tim-armstrong-named-chairman-and-ceo-of-aol/ Tim Armstrong Named Chairman and CEO of AOL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518061444/http://corp.aol.com/2009/03/12/tim-armstrong-named-chairman-and-ceo-of-aol |date=May 18, 2012 }}. AOL Press Release. Retrieved on April 9, 2012.</ref> On May 28, Time Warner announced that it would position AOL as an independent company after [[Google]]'s shares ceased at the end of the fiscal year.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna30979493 Time Warner walking out on AOL marriage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419195618/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna30979493 |date=April 19, 2023 }}. NBC News (May 28, 2009). Retrieved on July 8, 2011.</ref> On November 23, AOL unveiled a new brand identity with the [[wordmark]] "Aol." superimposed onto canvases created by commissioned artists. The new identity, designed by [[Wolff Olins]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Public Class |title=AOL |url=http://www.wolffolins.com/work/aol |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108061900/http://www.wolffolins.com/work/aol |archive-date=November 8, 2011 |access-date=January 30, 2012 |publisher=Wolff Olins}}</ref> was integrated with all of AOL's services on December 10, the date upon which AOL traded independently for the first time since the Time Warner merger on the [[New York Stock Exchange]] under the symbol AOL.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=AOL Celebrates Day One As an Independent Company |date=December 10, 2009 |publisher=AOL |location=New York |url=http://corp.aol.com/2009/12/10/aol-celebrates-day-one-as-an-independent-company/ |access-date=April 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615174514/http://corp.aol.com/2009/12/10/aol-celebrates-day-one-as-an-independent-company |archive-date=June 15, 2010}}</ref>

On April 6, 2010, AOL announced plans to shutter or sell Bebo.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barnett |first=Emma |date=April 7, 2010 |title=AOL prepares to shut down Bebo |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/social-media/7562278/AOL-prepares-to-shut-down-Bebo.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/social-media/7562278/AOL-prepares-to-shut-down-Bebo.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |access-date=April 6, 2010 |work=The Telegraph |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On June 16, the property was sold to [[Criterion Capital Partners]] for an undisclosed amount, believed to be approximately $10&nbsp;million.<ref>[https://money.cnn.com/2010/06/17/technology/aol_bebo/index.htm AOL sells Bebo for scrap – and a $275 million tax break] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920080716/https://money.cnn.com/2010/06/17/technology/aol_bebo/index.htm |date=September 20, 2020 }}. CNN Money. Retrieved on April 12, 2011.</ref> In December, AIM eliminated access to AOL chat rooms, noting a marked decline in usage in recent months.<ref>[http://help.aol.com/help/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=51135&sliceId=2&docTypeID=DT_AOLTROUBLESHOOTING_1_1&dialogID=1803786282&stateId=1%200%201803796051&radios=False Why is AIM Chat Closed?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029190923/http://help.aol.com/help/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=51135&sliceId=2&docTypeID=DT_AOLTROUBLESHOOTING_1_1&dialogID=1803786282&stateId=1%200%201803796051&radios=False |date=October 29, 2013}}. AOL Help. Retrieved on April 9, 2012.</ref>

Under Armstrong's leadership, AOL followed a new business direction marked by a series of acquisitions. It announced the acquisition of [[Patch Media]], a network of community-specific news and information sites focused on towns and communities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swisher |first=Kara |title=Back to the Future: AOL Goes Local With Two Acquisitions (Including CEO's Company) |url=http://allthingsd.com/20090611/back-to-the-future-aol-adds-local-with-two-acquisitions-including-ceos-start-up/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829145507/http://allthingsd.com/20090611/back-to-the-future-aol-adds-local-with-two-acquisitions-including-ceos-start-up/ |archive-date=August 29, 2011 |access-date=June 11, 2009 |publisher=AllThingsD}}</ref> On September 28, 2010, at the San Francisco [[TechCrunch]] Disrupt Conference, AOL signed an agreement to acquire [[TechCrunch]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Armstrong |first=Tim |date=September 28, 2010 |title=We Got TechCrunch! |url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/09/28/tim-armstrong-we-got-techcrunch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001004758/http://techcrunch.com/2010/09/28/tim-armstrong-we-got-techcrunch/ |archive-date=October 1, 2010 |access-date=September 29, 2010 |work=TechCrunch}}</ref><ref name="tc sold">{{Cite news |last=Arrington |first=Michael |date=September 28, 2010 |title=Why We Sold TechCrunch to AOL and Where We Go From Here |url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/09/28/why-we-sold-techcrunch-to-aol-and-where-we-go-from-here/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100929180016/http://techcrunch.com/2010/09/28/why-we-sold-techcrunch-to-aol-and-where-we-go-from-here/ |archive-date=September 29, 2010 |access-date=September 29, 2010 |work=TechCrunch}}</ref> On December 12, 2010, AOL acquired [[about.me]], a personal profile and identity platform, four days after the platform's public launch.<ref>[https://techcrunch.com/2010/12/20/aol-acquires-personal-profile-startup-about-me/ AOL Acquires Personal Profile Startup About.Me] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103021432/https://techcrunch.com/2010/12/20/aol-acquires-personal-profile-startup-about-me/ |date=November 3, 2017 }}. TechCrunch. Retrieved April 9, 2012.</ref>

On January 31, 2011, AOL announced the acquisition of European video distribution network goviral.<ref>[http://corp.aol.com/2011/01/31/online-video-distribution-network-goviral-acquired-by-aol-europe/ Online video distribution network Goviral acquired by AOL Europe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221061236/http://corp.aol.com/2011/01/31/online-video-distribution-network-goviral-acquired-by-aol-europe |date=February 21, 2011 }}. AOL Press Release. Retrieved April 9, 2012.</ref> In March 2011, AOL acquired ''[[HuffPost]]'' for $315&nbsp;million.<ref name="huffpostcomplete">{{Cite news |last=Steel |first=Emily |date=March 7, 2011 |title=AOL Completes Purchase of Huffington Post |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703386704576186232665740452 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725052830/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703386704576186232665740452 |archive-date=July 25, 2020 |access-date=April 27, 2020 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/pda/2011/feb/07/aol-buys-huffington-post AOL buys Huffington Post: the beginning of the end?]. Guardian. Retrieved on July 8, 2011.</ref> Shortly after the acquisition was announced, ''[[Huffington Post]]'' co-founder [[Arianna Huffington]] replaced AOL content chief David Eun, assuming the role of president and editor-in-chief of the AOL Huffington Post Media Group.<ref>[https://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/02/aol-david-eun/ Wired.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119075611/https://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/02/aol-david-eun/ |date=January 19, 2012 }}. Wired.com. Retrieved on July 8, 2011.</ref> On March 10, AOL announced that it would cut approximately 900 workers following the ''[[HuffPost]]'' acquisition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pepitone |first=Julianne |date=March 10, 2011 |title=AOL Cuts 900 Jobs After HuffPo Buy |url=https://money.cnn.com/2011/03/10/technology/aol_layoffs_armstrong/index.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921111249/https://money.cnn.com/2011/03/10/technology/aol_layoffs_armstrong/index.htm |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |access-date=April 27, 2020 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

On September 14, 2011, AOL formed a strategic ad-selling partnership with two of its largest competitors, [[Yahoo!|Yahoo]] and [[Microsoft]]. The three companies would begin selling inventory on each other's sites. The strategy was designed to help the companies compete with [[Google]] and advertising networks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 14, 2011 |title=allthingsd.com |url=http://allthingsd.com/20110914/all-for-one-yahoo-aol-microsoft-band-together-for-ad-plan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923112106/http://allthingsd.com/20110914/all-for-one-yahoo-aol-microsoft-band-together-for-ad-plan/ |archive-date=September 23, 2011 |access-date=January 30, 2012 |publisher=allthingsd.com}}</ref>

On February 28, 2012, AOL partnered with [[PBS]] to launch MAKERS, a digital documentary series focusing on high-achieving women in industries perceived as male-dominated such as war, comedy, space, business, Hollywood and politics.<ref>Dwyer, Kate (March 28, 2016). [http://www.teenvogue.com/story/makers-stories-app-michelle-obama-music-video "How You Can Be in the Music Video for Michelle Obama's Song With Zendaya and Lea Michele"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302113908/http://www.teenvogue.com/story/makers-stories-app-michelle-obama-music-video |date=March 2, 2017 }}. ''[[Teen Vogue]]''.</ref><ref>[https://www.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/blogs/news/aol-and-pbs-announce-makers-women-who-make-america/ "AOL and PBS Announce 'MAKERS: WOMEN WHO MAKE AMERICA'"] . [[PBS]]. February 28, 2012.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AOL and PBS Announce 'MAKERS: Women Who Make America' |url=http://corp.aol.com/2012/02/28/aol-and-pbs-announce-makers-women-who-make-america/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518095229/http://corp.aol.com/2012/02/28/aol-and-pbs-announce-makers-women-who-make-america |archive-date=May 18, 2012 |access-date=January 26, 2016 |website=AOL Corp}}</ref> Subjects for MAKERS episodes have included [[Oprah Winfrey]], [[Hillary Clinton]], [[Sheryl Sandberg]], [[Martha Stewart]], [[Indra Nooyi]], [[Lena Dunham]] and [[Ellen DeGeneres]].

On March 15, 2012, AOL announced the acquisition of Hipster, a mobile photo-sharing app, for an undisclosed amount.<ref>[https://venturebeat.com/2012/03/15/aol-buys-hipster/ AOL acquires mobile photo-sharing app Hipster] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105032240/https://venturebeat.com/2012/03/15/aol-buys-hipster/ |date=November 5, 2017 }}. VentureBeat. Retrieved on April 9, 2012.</ref> On April 9, 2012, AOL announced a deal to sell 800 patents to [[Microsoft]] for $1.056&nbsp;billion. The deal included a perpetual license for AOL to use the patents.<ref>[http://corp.aol.com/2012/04/09/aol-and-microsoft-announce-1-056-billion-patent-deal/ AOL and Microsoft Announce $1.056 Billion Deal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120410031232/http://corp.aol.com/2012/04/09/aol-and-microsoft-announce-1-056-billion-patent-deal/ |date=April 10, 2012 }}. AOL Press Release. Retrieved on April 9, 2012.</ref>

In April, AOL took several steps to expand its ability to generate revenue through [[Video advertising|online video advertising]]. The company announced that it would offer [[gross rating point]] (GRP) guarantee for online video, mirroring the television-ratings system and guaranteeing audience delivery for online-video advertising campaigns bought across its properties.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Thielman |first=Sam |title=Nielsen, AOL Chase Ads With TV-Like Ratings Web giant issues bold guarantees regarding its online GRP's |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/nielsen-aol-chase-ads-tv-ratings-139593 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419192057/http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/nielsen-aol-chase-ads-tv-ratings-139593 |archive-date=April 19, 2012 |access-date=April 16, 2012 |magazine=AdWeek}}</ref> This announcement came just days before the [[Digital Content NewFront|Digital Content NewFront (DCNF)]] a two-week event held by AOL, [[Google]], [[Hulu]], [[Microsoft]], [[Vevo]] and [[Yahoo!|Yahoo]] to showcase the participating sites' digital video offerings. The DCNF was conducted in advance of the traditional television upfronts in the hope of diverting more advertising money into the digital space.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vega |first=Tanzia |last2=Elliott |first2=Stuart |date=April 26, 2012 |title=Small Screens, Big Dollars |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/business/media/newfronts-make-bids-for-big-marketing-dollars.html?_r=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430184425/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/business/media/newfronts-make-bids-for-big-marketing-dollars.html?_r=1 |archive-date=April 30, 2012 |access-date=July 1, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> On April 24, the company launched the [[AOL On]] network, a single website for its video output.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Coyle |first=Jake |date=April 24, 2012 |title=AOL launches online video network, AOL On |url=https://news.yahoo.com/aol-launches-online-video-network-aol-222116148.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429184846/http://news.yahoo.com/aol-launches-online-video-network-aol-222116148.html |archive-date=April 29, 2012 |access-date=May 1, 2012 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

In February 2013, AOL reported its fourth quarter revenue of $599.5&nbsp;million, its first growth in quarterly revenue in eight years.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hagey |first=Keach |date=February 8, 2013 |title=AOL Quarterly Revenue Rises for First Time in Years |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323452204578291641794924434 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716182224/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323452204578291641794924434 |archive-date=July 16, 2017 |access-date=July 1, 2017 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref>

In August 2013, Armstrong announced that [[Patch Media]] would scale back or sell hundreds of its local news sites.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kafka |first=Peter |date=August 9, 2013 |title=400 Patch Sites on the Block, AOL Says |url=http://allthingsd.com/20130809/400-patch-sites-on-the-block-aol-says/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816041928/http://allthingsd.com/20130809/400-patch-sites-on-the-block-aol-says/ |archive-date=August 16, 2013 |access-date=August 22, 2013 |publisher=AllThingsD}}</ref> Not long afterward, layoffs began, with up to 500 out of 1,100 positions initially impacted.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hagey |first=Keach |date=August 16, 2013 |title=AOL Begins Layoffs At Patch |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324823804579016792559044128 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217233132/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324823804579016792559044128 |archive-date=December 17, 2014 |access-date=August 22, 2013 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> On January 15, 2014, Patch Media was spun off, and majority ownership was held by Hale Global.<ref name="Hale">{{Cite news |last=Kaufman |first=Leslie |date=January 15, 2014 |title=AOL Finds a Partner to Run Its Troubled Patch Division |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/16/business/media/aol-finds-a-partner-to-run-its-troubled-patch-division.html |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/16/business/media/aol-finds-a-partner-to-run-its-troubled-patch-division.html |archive-date=2022-01-01 |work=New York Times}}{{cbignore}}</ref> By the end of 2014, AOL controlled 0.74% of the global advertising market, well behind industry leader Google's 31.4%.<ref name="BBCbuy" />

On January 23, 2014, AOL acquired Gravity, a software startup that tracked users' online behavior and tailored ads and content based on their interests, for $83&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MacMillan |first=Douglas |date=January 23, 2014 |title=AOL Buys Software Startup Gravity |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/01/23/aol-buys-software-startup-gravity/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202171000/http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/01/23/aol-buys-software-startup-gravity/ |archive-date=February 2, 2016 |access-date=January 29, 2016 |website=WSJ Blogs - Digits}}</ref> The deal, which included approximately 40 Gravity employees and the company's personalization technology, was Armstrong's fourth-largest deal since taking command in 2009. Later that year, AOL acquired Vidible, a company that developed technology to help websites run video content from other publishers, and help video publishers sell their content to these websites. The deal, which was announced December 1, 2014, was reportedly worth roughly $50&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 2014 |title=AOL Adds More Video Help by Buying Content Syndicator Vidible for Around $50 Million |url=http://recode.net/2014/12/01/aol-adds-more-video-help-by-buying-content-syndicator-vidible/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204022941/http://recode.net/2014/12/01/aol-adds-more-video-help-by-buying-content-syndicator-vidible/ |archive-date=December 4, 2014 |access-date=January 29, 2016 |website=Re/code}}</ref>

On July 16, 2014, AOL earned an [[Emmy Award|Emmy]] nomination for the AOL original series ''The Future Starts Here'' in the News and Documentary category.<ref>{{Cite news |title=AOL Original "The Future Starts Here" by @TiffanyShlain Nominated for News And Documentary Emmy Award |url=http://corp.aol.com/2014/07/16/aol-original-the-future-starts-here-by-tiffanyshlain-nominate/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141001163504/http://corp.aol.com/2014/07/16/aol-original-the-future-starts-here-by-tiffanyshlain-nominate |archive-date=October 1, 2014 |access-date=January 28, 2016}}</ref> This came days after AOL earned its first [[Primetime Emmy Award]] nomination and win for ''[[Park Bench with Steve Buscemi]]'' in the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Variety Series|Outstanding Short Form Variety Series]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 10, 2014 |title=Steve Buscemi Gets Emmy Love for 'Park Bench' |url=http://www.etonline.com/awards/148264_steve_buscemi_gets_emmy_love_for_park_bench/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818231655/http://www.etonline.com/awards/148264_steve_buscemi_gets_emmy_love_for_park_bench/ |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |access-date=January 28, 2016}}</ref> Created and hosted by [[Tiffany Shlain]], the series focused on humans' relationship with technology and featured episodes such as "The Future of Our Species", "Why We Love Robots" and "A Case for Optimism".

=== 2015–2021: As part of Verizon ===
[[File:AOL Silicon Valley office.jpg|thumb|left|AOL's Silicon Valley branch office]]
On May 12, 2015, [[Verizon]] announced plans to buy AOL for $50 per share in a deal valued at $4.4&nbsp;billion. The transaction was completed on June 23. [[Tim Armstrong (executive)|Armstrong]], who continued to lead the firm following regulatory approval, called the deal the logical next step for AOL. "If you look forward five years, you're going to be in a space where there are going to be massive, global-scale networks, and there's no better partner for us to go forward with than Verizon." he said. "It's really not about selling the company today. It's about setting up for the next five to 10 years."<ref name="buyout-cnbc" />

Analyst David Bank said he thought the deal made sense for Verizon.<ref name="buyout-cnbc" /> The deal will broaden Verizon's advertising sales platforms and increase its video production ability through websites such as ''[[HuffPost]]'', [[TechCrunch]], and [[Engadget]].<ref name="BBCbuy">{{Cite news |date=May 12, 2015 |title=Verizon buys AOL for $4.4bn |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-32702558 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512132122/http://www.bbc.com/news/business-32702558 |archive-date=May 12, 2015 |access-date=May 12, 2015 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> However, Craig Moffett said it was unlikely the deal would make a big difference to Verizon's bottom line.<ref name="buyout-cnbc" /> AOL had about two million dial-up subscribers at the time of the buyout.<ref name="BBCbuy" /> The announcement caused AOL's stock price to rise 17%, while Verizon's stock price dropped slightly.<ref name="buyout-cnbc" />

Shortly before the Verizon purchase, on April 14, 2015, AOL launched ONE by AOL, a digital marketing programmatic platform that unifies buying channels and audience management platforms to track and optimize campaigns over multiple screens.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AOL Corp |url=http://corp.aol.com/2015/04/14/aol-launches-one-by-aol/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418203533/http://corp.aol.com/2015/04/14/aol-launches-one-by-aol |archive-date=April 18, 2015 |access-date=January 28, 2016 |website=AOL Corp}}</ref> Later that year, on September 15, AOL expanded the product with ONE by AOL: Creative, which is geared towards creative and media agencies to similarly connect marketing and ad distribution efforts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AOL Corp |url=http://corp.aol.com/2015/09/15/aol-expands-one-by-aol-platform-to-drive-data-driven-personaliz/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918021236/http://corp.aol.com/2015/09/15/aol-expands-one-by-aol-platform-to-drive-data-driven-personaliz |archive-date=September 18, 2015 |access-date=January 28, 2016 |website=AOL Corp}}</ref>

On May 8, 2015, AOL reported its first-quarter revenue of $625.1&nbsp;million, $483.5&nbsp;million of which came from advertising and related operations, marking a 7% increase from Q1 2014. Over that year, the AOL Platforms division saw a 21% increase in revenue, but a drop in adjusted [[OIBDA]] due to increased investments in the company's video and programmatic platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quarterly Earnings – Investor Relations – AOL |url=http://ir.aol.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=147895&p=quarterlyearnings |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718001340/http://ir.aol.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=147895&p=quarterlyearnings |archive-date=July 18, 2018 |access-date=February 5, 2016 |website=ir.aol.com}}</ref>

On June 29, 2015, AOL announced a deal with [[Microsoft]] to take over the majority of its digital advertising business. Under the pact, as many as 1,200 Microsoft employees involved with the business will be transferred to AOL, and the company will take over the sale of display, video, and mobile ads on various Microsoft platforms in nine countries, including Brazil, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, [[Google Search]] will be replaced on AOL properties with [[Bing (search engine)|Bing]]—which will display advertising [[Bing Ads|sold by Microsoft]]. Both advertising deals are subject to [[affiliate marketing]] [[revenue sharing]].<ref name="nyt-aolads">{{Cite news |last=Grandoni |first=Dino |date=June 29, 2015 |title=AOL in Deal With Microsoft to Take Over Display Ad Business |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/30/business/aol-in-deal-with-microsoft-to-take-over-display-ad-business.html?_r=0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323072517/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/30/business/aol-in-deal-with-microsoft-to-take-over-display-ad-business.html?_r=0 |archive-date=March 23, 2019 |access-date=June 30, 2015 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="wsj-bingaolads">{{Cite news |last=Shields |first=Mike |last2=Ovide |first2=Shira |date=June 29, 2015 |title=AOL Takes Over Majority of Microsoft's Ad Business, Swaps Google Search For Bing |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/cmo/2015/06/29/aol-takes-over-majority-of-microsofts-ad-business-swaps-google-search-for-bing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309073908/https://blogs.wsj.com/cmo/2015/06/29/aol-takes-over-majority-of-microsofts-ad-business-swaps-google-search-for-bing/ |archive-date=March 9, 2020 |access-date=June 30, 2015 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref>

On July 22, 2015, AOL received two News and Documentary Emmy nominations, one for MAKERS in the Outstanding Historical Programming category, and the other for ''True Trans With [[Laura Jane Grace]]'', which documented the story of Laura Jane Grace, a [[transgender]] musician best known as the founder, lead singer, songwriter and guitarist of the punk rock band [[Against Me!]], and her decision to come out publicly and overall transition experience.<ref>{{Cite news |title=NOMINEES FOR THE 36th ANNUAL NEWS & DOCUMENTARY EMMY AWARDS ANNOUNCED |url=http://emmyonline.com/download/news_36th_nominations_revised-10.29.15.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205061528/http://emmyonline.com/download/news_36th_nominations_revised-10.29.15.pdf |archive-date=February 5, 2016}}</ref>

On September 3, 2015, AOL agreed to buy [[Millennial Media]] for $238&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 3, 2015 |title=AOL Confirms It Is Buying Millennial Media In $238M Deal To Expand In Mobile Ads |url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/09/03/aol-acquires-millennial-media/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201215640/https://techcrunch.com/2015/09/03/aol-acquires-millennial-media/ |archive-date=December 1, 2018 |access-date=June 25, 2017 |website=TechCrunch}}</ref> On October 23, 2015, AOL completed the acquisition.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AOL Completes Acquisition of Millennial Media |url=http://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/aol-completes-acquisition-of-millennial-media-20151023-00375 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231192656/http://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/aol-completes-acquisition-of-millennial-media-20151023-00375 |archive-date=December 31, 2015 |access-date=December 6, 2015 |website=Nasdaq}}</ref>

On October 1, 2015, Go90, a free ad-supported mobile video service aimed at young adult and teen viewers that Verizon owns and AOL oversees and operates, launched its content publicly after months of beta testing.<ref name="usatoday">{{Cite web |title=Verizon launches go90 mobile video service |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/10/01/verizon-launches-go90-mobile-video-service/73138654/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122035139/http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/10/01/verizon-launches-go90-mobile-video-service/73138654/ |archive-date=January 22, 2016 |access-date=January 26, 2016 |website=USA TODAY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roettgers |first=Janko |date=October 8, 2015 |title=Verizon May Strike Partnerships With Other Carriers to Take Go90 International |url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/verizon-may-strike-partnerships-with-other-carriers-to-take-go90-international-1201613102/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126065307/https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/verizon-may-strike-partnerships-with-other-carriers-to-take-go90-international-1201613102/ |archive-date=January 26, 2016 |access-date=January 26, 2016 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> The initial launch line-up included content from [[Comedy Central]], [[HuffPost]], [[Nerdist News]], [[Univision]] News, [[Vice Media|Vice]], [[ESPN]] and [[MTV]].<ref name="usatoday" />

On April 20, 2016, AOL acquired virtual reality studio [[RYOT]] to bring immersive 360 degree video and VR content to [[HuffPost]]'s global audience across desktop, mobile, and apps.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 20, 2016 |title=AOL Acquires VR Content Studio Ryot to Bring Immersive Video to the Huffington Post |url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/04/20/aol-acquires-vr-content-studio-ryot-to-bring-immersive-video-to-the-huffington-post/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505034131/http://venturebeat.com/2016/04/20/aol-acquires-vr-content-studio-ryot-to-bring-immersive-video-to-the-huffington-post/ |archive-date=May 5, 2016 |access-date=April 20, 2016 |website=venturebeat.com}}</ref>

In July 2016, Verizon Communications announced its intent to purchase the core internet business of [[Yahoo!]]. Verizon merged AOL with Yahoo into a new company called "[[Verizon Media|Oath Inc.]]", which in January 2019 rebranded itself as [[Verizon Media]].<ref name="verge-oath">{{Cite web |date=April 3, 2017 |title=Verizon is mashing Yahoo and AOL into a new company called Oath |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/4/3/15166872/aol-verizon-oath-announced-merger-rebranding-new-name-logo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404005534/http://www.theverge.com/2017/4/3/15166872/aol-verizon-oath-announced-merger-rebranding-new-name-logo |archive-date=April 4, 2017 |access-date=April 3, 2017 |website=The Verge}}</ref>

In April 2018, [[Verizon Media|Oath Inc.]] sold [[Moviefone]] to [[MoviePass]] Parent [[Helios and Matheson Analytics]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Todd Spangler |date=April 5, 2018 |title=MoviePass Parent Acquires Moviefone in Deal With Verizon's Oath |url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/moviepass-acquires-moviefone-15-million-deal-1202744759/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711074959/https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/moviepass-acquires-moviefone-15-million-deal-1202744759/ |archive-date=July 11, 2018 |access-date=September 10, 2018 |website=Variety}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2018 |title=Helios and Matheson Analytics and MoviePass Acquire Moviefone in Strategic Move |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180405005624/en/Helios-Matheson-Analytics-MoviePass%E2%84%A2-Acquire-Moviefone-Strategic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916120646/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180405005624/en/Helios-Matheson-Analytics-MoviePass%E2%84%A2-Acquire-Moviefone-Strategic/ |archive-date=September 16, 2018 |access-date=September 10, 2018 |website=Businesswire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rhett Jones |date=April 5, 2018 |title=MoviePass Buys Moviefone as It Presses Forward With Movie Theater Domination |url=https://gizmodo.com/moviepass-buys-moviefone-as-it-presses-forward-with-mov-1825015907 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930221635/https://gizmodo.com/moviepass-buys-moviefone-as-it-presses-forward-with-mov-1825015907 |archive-date=September 30, 2018 |access-date=September 10, 2018 |website=Gizmodo}}</ref>

In November 2020 the ''[[Huffington Post]]'' was sold to [[BuzzFeed]] in a stock deal.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hagey |first=Benjamin Mullin and Keach |date=November 19, 2020 |title=BuzzFeed to Acquire HuffPost in Stock Deal With Verizon Media |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/buzzfeed-to-acquire-huffpost-in-stock-deal-with-verizon-media-11605808800 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119180053/https://www.wsj.com/articles/buzzfeed-to-acquire-huffpost-in-stock-deal-with-verizon-media-11605808800 |archive-date=November 19, 2020 |access-date=January 19, 2021 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>

=== 2021–2025: As part of an independent Yahoo!===
On May 3, 2021, Verizon announced it would sell 90 percent of its Verizon Media division to [[Apollo Global Management]] for $5 billion, becoming the [[Yahoo! Inc. (2017–present)|second independent incarnation of Yahoo! Inc.]]<ref name=":0" />

=== 2025: Pending acquisition by Bending Spoons ===
In October 2025, Bending Spoons acquired AOL in a deal valued at roughly $1.5 billion. In a statement, Bending Spoons CEO Luca Ferrari cited AOL's 30 million active users as part of what made the property attractive. The deal is expected to close in late 2025 or early 2026.<ref name="buyout axios" />

== Products and services ==
=== Content ===
As of September 1, 2021, the following media brands became subsidiary of AOL's parent [[Yahoo (2017–present)|Yahoo Inc.]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Verizon has sold mapping service MapQuest as the telecom giant continues to trim its media investments |url=https://www.businessinsider.in/advertising/news/verizon-has-sold-mapping-service-mapquest-as-the-telecom-giant-continues-to-trim-its-media-investments/articleshow/71401167.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819085155/https://www.businessinsider.in/advertising/news/verizon-has-sold-mapping-service-mapquest-as-the-telecom-giant-continues-to-trim-its-media-investments/articleshow/71401167.cms |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |access-date=October 9, 2019 |website=Business Insider}}</ref>
* [[Engadget]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 6, 2005 |title=AOL buys blog network Weblogs Inc. |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna9611167 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102165030/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna9611167 |archive-date=November 2, 2020 |access-date=June 20, 2018 |work=msnbc.com |language=en}}</ref>
* Autoblog<ref name="wired">{{Cite magazine |title=AOL Buys Huffington Post for $315 Million, Arianna to Head AOL Media |url=https://www.wired.com/2011/02/aol-buys-huffington/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130160725/https://www.wired.com/2011/02/aol-buys-huffington/ |archive-date=November 30, 2020 |access-date=July 1, 2018 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[TechCrunch]]<ref name="tc sold" />
* [[Built by Girls]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stelter |first=Brian |date=June 14, 2010 |title=AOL Teams With Jonas Group for MTV-Style Site |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/technology/internet/14aolcambio.html |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/technology/internet/14aolcambio.html |archive-date=2022-01-01 |access-date=June 20, 2018 |work=The New York Times |language=en}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

AOL's content contributors consists of over 20,000 bloggers, including politicians, celebrities, academics, and policy experts, who contribute on a wide range of topics making news.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AOL Products and Services: Content |url=http://corp.aol.com/products-services/content |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717041149/https://www.corp.aol.com/products-services/content |archive-date=July 17, 2012 |access-date=July 24, 2012}}</ref>

In addition to mobile-optimized web experiences, AOL produces mobile applications for existing AOL properties like Autoblog, Engadget, The Huffington Post, TechCrunch, and products such as Alto, Pip, and Vivv.

=== Advertising ===
AOL has a global portfolio of media brands and advertising services across mobile, desktop, and TV. Services include brand integration and sponsorships through its in-house branded content arm, Partner Studio by AOL, as well as data and programmatic offerings through ad technology stack, [[One by AOL|ONE by AOL]].

AOL acquired a number of businesses and technologies help to form ONE by AOL. These acquisitions included AdapTV in 2013 and Convertro, Precision Demand, and Vidible in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Overview |url=http://corp.aol.com/about-aol/overview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160707055910/http://corp.aol.com/about-aol/overview |archive-date=July 7, 2016 |access-date=February 5, 2016 |website=AOL Corp}}</ref> ONE by AOL is further broken down into ONE by AOL for Publishers (formerly Vidible, AOL On Network and Be On for Publishers) and ONE by AOL for Advertisers, each of which have several sub-platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ONE BY AOL FOR PUBLISHERS |url=http://www.aolplatforms.com/onebyaol-publishers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718174503/https://www.aolplatforms.com/onebyaol-publishers |archive-date=July 18, 2018 |access-date=February 5, 2016 |website=AOL Platforms}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ONE BY AOL FOR ADVERTISERS |url=http://www.aolplatforms.com/onebyaol-advertisers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718055134/https://www.aolplatforms.com/onebyaol-advertisers |archive-date=July 18, 2018 |access-date=February 5, 2016 |website=AOL Platforms}}</ref>

On September 10, 2018, AOL's parent company Oath consolidated [[BrightRoll]], One by AOL and [[Yahoo! Gemini|Yahoo Gemini]] to 'simplify' adtech service by launching a single advertising proposition dubbed Oath Ad Platforms, now Yahoo! Ad Tech.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cameron Clarke |date=September 10, 2018 |title=Oath consolidates BrightRoll, One by AOL and Yahoo Gemini to 'simplify' adtech service. Launches a single advertising proposition dubbed Oath Ad Platforms |url=https://www.thedrum.com/news/2018/09/10/oath-consolidates-brightroll-one-aol-and-yahoo-gemini-simplify-adtech-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919014636/https://www.thedrum.com/news/2018/09/10/oath-consolidates-brightroll-one-aol-and-yahoo-gemini-simplify-adtech-service |archive-date=September 19, 2020 |access-date=September 10, 2018 |website=The Drum}}</ref>

=== Membership ===
AOL offers a range of integrated products and properties including communication tools, mobile apps and services and subscription packages.

In 2017, before the discontinuation of AIM, "billions of messages" were sent "daily" on it and AOL's other chat services.<ref name=":1" />
* [[Dial-up Internet access]] – While 2.1&nbsp;million people still used AOL's dial-up service as recently as 2015,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Matyszczyk |first=Chris |date=May 8, 2015 |title=More than 2 million people still pay for AOL dial-up |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/more-than-2-million-people-still-pay-for-aol-dialup/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224093115/https://www.cnet.com/news/more-than-2-million-people-still-pay-for-aol-dialup/ |archive-date=December 24, 2020 |access-date=May 8, 2015 |website=CNET}}</ref> only a few thousand were still subscribed as of 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sherman |first=Alex |title=About 1.5 million people still pay for AOL — but now they get tech support and identity theft services instead of dial-up internet |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/03/aol-1point5-million-people-still-pay-for-service-but-not-for-dial-up-internet.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902161735/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/03/aol-1point5-million-people-still-pay-for-service-but-not-for-dial-up-internet.html |archive-date=September 2, 2022 |access-date=August 7, 2022 |work=[[CNBC]] |language=en}}</ref> AOL plans to discontinue dial-up service on September 30, 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://help.aol.com/articles/dial-up-internet-to-be-discontinued|title=Dial-up Internet to be discontinued|website=AOL|access-date=August 11, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250811014830/https://help.aol.com/articles/dial-up-internet-to-be-discontinued|archive-date=August 11, 2025}}</ref>
* [[AOL Mail]] – AOL Mail is AOL's proprietary email client. It is fully integrated with AIM and links to news headlines on AOL content sites.
* [[AOL Instant Messenger]] (AIM) – was AOL's proprietary instant-messaging tool. It was released in 1997. It lost market share to competition in the instant messenger market such as Google Chat, Facebook Messenger, and Skype.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Victor |first=Daniel |date=October 6, 2017 |title=A Going-Away Message: AOL Instant Messenger Is Shutting Down |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/06/technology/aol-aim-shut-down.html?rref=collection/timestopic/AOL%20Inc. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921200216/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/06/technology/aol-aim-shut-down.html?rref=collection/timestopic/AOL%20Inc. |archive-date=September 21, 2018 |access-date=July 12, 2018 |work=The New York Times |language=en}}</ref> It also included a video-chat service, AV by AIM. On December 15, 2017, AOL discontinued AIM.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Molina |first=Brett |date=October 6, 2017 |title=RIP AIM: AOL Instant Messenger dies in December |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2017/10/06/rip-aim-aol-instant-messenger-dies-december/739076001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725054235/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2017/10/06/rip-aim-aol-instant-messenger-dies-december/739076001/ |archive-date=July 25, 2020 |access-date=October 6, 2017 |work=[[USA Today]] |location=[[McLean, Virginia|McLean]], Virginia}}</ref>
* AOL Plans – AOL Plans offers three online safety and assistance tools: ID protection, data security and a general online technical assistance service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AOL Membership |url=http://corp.aol.com/products-services/aol-membership |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625103003/http://corp.aol.com/products-services/aol-membership |archive-date=June 25, 2016 |access-date=February 5, 2016 |website=AOL Corp}}</ref>

=== AOL Desktop ===
{{Infobox software
| name = AOL Desktop
| logo = 
| screenshot = 
| caption = 
| developer = AOL
| released = {{Start date and age|2007|12|8}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 10, 2007 |title=AOL debuts new desktop software for Windows |url=https://betanews.com/2007/12/10/aol-debuts-new-desktop-software-for-windows/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725055225/https://betanews.com/2007/12/10/aol-debuts-new-desktop-software-for-windows/ |archive-date=July 25, 2020 |access-date=January 24, 2020 |website=BetaNews |language=en}}</ref>
| latest release version = 9.8<ref name="daol.aol.com">{{Cite web |title=AOL Desktop for Windows |url=http://discover.aol.com/products-and-services/aol-desktop-for-windows |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919071328/http://discover.aol.com/products-and-services/aol-desktop-for-windows |archive-date=September 19, 2015 |access-date=September 17, 2015 |website=Discover AOL}}
*"We're sorry. This product is not available outside of the US or Canada."</ref>(Windows)<br />1.7 (macOS)
| latest release date = August 10, 2015
| latest preview version = 11.0.3418
| latest preview date = November 11, 2021.<ref name="beta.aol.com">{{Cite web |title=AOL Beta Central |url=http://beta.aol.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122175127/https://beta.aol.com/ |archive-date=November 22, 2018 |access-date=January 24, 2020}}</ref>
| programming language = [[C++]]
| operating system = [[Microsoft Windows XP]] or later, [[Mac OS X Tiger|Mac OS X 10.4]].8 or later
| genre = [[Internet Suite]]
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.aol.com/products/browsers/desktop-gold}}
}}

'''AOL Desktop''' is an internet suite produced by AOL from 2007<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 8, 2007 |title=Free Software From AOL - Discover AOL |url=http://daol.aol.com:80/software/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071208214123/http://daol.aol.com/software/ |archive-date=December 8, 2007 |access-date=January 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 12, 2007 |title=AOL Desktop / AOL Helix |url=http://beta.aol.com/projects.php?project=helix |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012033324/http://beta.aol.com/projects.php?project=helix |archive-date=October 12, 2007 |access-date=January 24, 2020}}</ref> that integrates a [[web browser]], a [[Media player (application software)|media player]] and an [[instant messenger]] client.<ref name="daol.aol.com" /> Version 10.X was based on [[AOL OpenRide]];<ref>{{Cite web |title=August 8th Helix Beta Chat |url=http://beta.aol.com/projects/chat/chat_logs/20070808_Helix_FormalChat.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072101/http://beta.aol.com/projects/chat/chat_logs/20070808_Helix_FormalChat.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=April 12, 2015 |website=aol.com}}</ref> it is an upgrade from such.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 26, 2007 |title=AOL Heads in New Direction with 'Helix' |url=http://betanews.com/2007/07/26/aol-heads-in-new-direction-with-helix/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101752/http://betanews.com/2007/07/26/aol-heads-in-new-direction-with-helix/ |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=April 12, 2015 |website=BetaNews}}</ref> The [[macOS]] version is based on [[WebKit]].

AOL Desktop version 10.X was different from previous [[AOL Explorer|AOL browsers]] and AOL Desktop versions. Its features are focused on web browsing as well as [[email]]. For instance, one does not have to sign into AOL in order to use it as a regular browser. In addition, non-AOL email accounts can be accessed through it. Primary buttons include "MAIL", "IM", and several shortcuts to various web pages. The first two require users to sign in, but the shortcuts to web pages can be used without authentication. AOL Desktop version 10.X was later marked as unsupported in favor of supporting the AOL Desktop 9.X versions.

Version 9.8 was released, replacing the Internet Explorer components of the web browser with [[Chromium Embedded Framework|CEF]]<ref name="beta.aol.com" /> (Chromium Embedded Framework) to give users an improved web browsing experience closer to that of [[Google Chrome|Chrome]].

Version 11 of AOL Desktop was a total rewrite but maintained a similar user interface to the previous 9.8.X series of releases.<ref name="beta.aol.com" />

In 2017, a new paid version called AOL Desktop Gold was released, available for $4.99 per month after trial. It replaced the previous free version.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Free AOL Desktop is being discontinued |url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/lifestyles/free-aol-desktop-being-discontinued/O4gj3yO8S6oHqw7gzCNXWO/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927171949/https://www.daytondailynews.com/lifestyles/free-aol-desktop-being-discontinued/O4gj3yO8S6oHqw7gzCNXWO/ |archive-date=September 27, 2020 |access-date=February 2, 2019}}</ref> After the shutdown of AIM in 2017, AOL's original chat rooms continued to be accessible through AOL Desktop Gold, and some rooms remained active during peak hours. That chat system was shut down on December 15, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AOL Desktop Gold Chat Rooms to shut down on December 15, 2020 |url=https://help.aol.com/articles/aol-desktop-gold-chat-rooms-shutdown |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624200026/https://help.aol.com/articles/aol-desktop-gold-chat-rooms-shutdown |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |access-date=2021-06-17 |publisher=AOL}}</ref>

{{Anchor|AOL Toolbar}}In addition to AOL Desktop, the company also offered a [[browser toolbar]] [[Add-on (Mozilla)#Plug-ins|Mozilla plug-in]], '''AOL Toolbar''', for several web browsers that provided quick access to AOL services. The toolbar was available from 2007 until 2018.

== Criticism ==
[[File:NoMoreAolCDs in Aachen.JPG|thumb|upright=0.8|AOL CDs sent to a student dormitory at a University in Germany, 2002]]
In its earlier incarnation as a "[[Closed platform|walled garden]]" community and service provider, AOL received criticism for its community policies, terms of service, and customer service. Prior to 2006, AOL was known for its direct mailing of CD-ROMs and 3.5-inch floppy disks containing its software. The disks were distributed in large numbers; at one point, half of the CDs manufactured worldwide had AOL logos on them.<ref name="tc" /> The marketing tactic was criticized for its environmental cost, and AOL CDs were recognized as ''[[PC World]]''{{'}}s most annoying tech product.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dornin |first=Rusty |date=October 17, 2002 |title=CD overload? Send them back to AOL |url=http://articles.cnn.com/2002-10-17/tech/aol.discs_1_million-discs-aol-discs-aol-spokesman?_s=PM:TECH |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224092739/http://articles.cnn.com/2002-10-17/tech/aol.discs_1_million-discs-aol-discs-aol-spokesman?_s=PM%3ATECH |archive-date=February 24, 2013 |access-date=October 17, 2002 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=April 16, 2007 |title=Your Top 10 Most Annoying Tech Products |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/130647/your_top_10_most_annoying_tech_products.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804161624/http://www.pcworld.com/article/130647/your_top_10_most_annoying_tech_products.html |archive-date=August 4, 2009 |access-date=June 26, 2009 |magazine=[[PC World (magazine)|PCWorld]]}}</ref>

===Community leaders===
AOL used a system of volunteers to moderate its chat rooms, forums and user communities. The program dated back to AOL's early days, when it charged by the hour for access and one of its highest billing services was chat. AOL provided free access to community leaders in exchange for moderating the chat rooms, and this effectively made chat very cheap to operate, and more lucrative than AOL's other services of the era. There were 33,000 community leaders in 1996.<ref name="wired1999">{{Cite magazine |title=Inside AOL's "Cyber-Sweatshop" |url=https://www.wired.com/1999/10/volunteers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303010943/https://www.wired.com/1999/10/volunteers/ |archive-date=March 3, 2022 |access-date=February 2, 2016 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |language=en-US}}</ref> All community leaders received hours of training and underwent a probationary period. While most community leaders moderated chat rooms, some ran AOL communities and controlled their layout and design, with as much as 90% of AOL's content being created or overseen by community managers until 1996.<ref name="journal">{{Cite journal |last=Postigo, Hector |date=September 3, 2009 |title=America Online volunteers: Lessons from an early co-production community |url=https://www.academia.edu/10314787 |url-status=live |journal=International Journal of Cultural Studies |volume=12 |issue=5 |pages=451–469 |doi=10.1177/1367877909337858 |issn=1367-8779 |s2cid=144865243 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328063709/https://www.academia.edu/10314787 |archive-date=March 28, 2022 |access-date=April 4, 2020}}</ref>

By 1996, [[ISP]]s were beginning to charge flat rates for unlimited access, which they could do at a profit because they only provided internet access. Even though AOL would lose money with such a pricing scheme, it was forced by market conditions to offer unlimited access in October 1996. In order to return to profitability, AOL rapidly shifted its focus from content creation to advertising, resulting in less of a need to carefully moderate every forum and chat room to keep users willing to pay by the minute to remain connected.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Munk, Nina |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hhkt_fUrGOkC&q=unlimited |title=Fools Rush In: Steve Case, Jerry Levin, and the Unmaking of AOL Time Warner |publisher=HarperCollins |year=2009 |isbn=9780061743740 |pages=82–88}}</ref>

After unlimited access, AOL considered scrapping the program entirely, but continued it with a reduced number of community leaders, with scaled-back roles in creating content.<ref name="journal" /> Although community leaders continued to receive free access, after 1996 they were motivated more by the prestige of the position and the access to moderator tools and restricted areas within AOL.<ref name="wired1999" /><ref name="journal" /> By 1999, there were over 15,000 volunteers in the program.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Napoli, Lisa |date=May 26, 1999 |title=Former Volunteers Sue AOL, Seeking Back Pay for Work |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/26/nyregion/former-volunteers-sue-aol-seeking-back-pay-for-work.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417072320/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/26/nyregion/former-volunteers-sue-aol-seeking-back-pay-for-work.html |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |access-date=April 4, 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |page=Section B, Page 10}}</ref>

In May 1999, two former volunteers filed a class-action lawsuit alleging AOL violated the [[Fair Labor Standards Act]] by treating volunteers like employees. Volunteers had to apply for the position, commit to working for at least three to four hours a week, fill out timecards and sign a non-disclosure agreement.<ref name="priceonomics">{{Cite web |date=August 21, 2014 |title=The Aol Chat Room Monitor Revolt |url=http://priceonomics.com/the-aol-chat-room-monitor-revolt/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207225308/http://priceonomics.com/the-aol-chat-room-monitor-revolt/ |archive-date=February 7, 2016 |access-date=February 2, 2016 |website=Priceonomics}}</ref> On July 22, AOL ended its youth corps, which consisted of 350 underage community leaders.<ref name="wired1999" /> At this time, the [[United States Department of Labor]] began an investigation into the program, but it came to no conclusions about AOL's practices.<ref name="priceonomics" />

AOL ended its community leader program on June 8, 2005. The class action lawsuit dragged on for years, even after AOL ended the program and AOL declined as a major internet company. In 2010, AOL finally agreed to settle the lawsuit for $15&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kirchner, Lauren |date=February 10, 2011 |title=AOL Settled with Unpaid "Volunteers" for $15 Million |url=https://archives.cjr.org/the_news_frontier/aol_settled_with_unpaid_volunt.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725052505/https://archives.cjr.org/the_news_frontier/aol_settled_with_unpaid_volunt.php |archive-date=July 25, 2020 |access-date=April 4, 2020 |publisher=[[Columbia Journalism Review]]}}</ref> The community leader program was described as an example of [[Co-production (society)|co-production]] in a 2009 article in ''[[International Journal of Cultural Studies]]''.<ref name="journal" />

=== Billing disputes ===
AOL has faced a number of lawsuits over claims that it has been slow to stop billing customers after their accounts have been canceled, either by the company or the user. In addition, AOL changed its method of calculating used minutes in response to a [[Class action|class action lawsuit]]. Previously, AOL would add 15 seconds to the time a user was connected to the service and round up to the next whole minute (thus, a person who used the service for 12 minutes and 46 seconds would be charged for 14 minutes).<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2025-03-25|title=AOL to settle class-action suits|url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/aol-to-settle-class-action-suits/|website=CNET}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first1=David S.|last1=Hilzenrath|accessdate=2025-03-25|title=AOL Will Settle Billing Allegations|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-06-fi-21592-story.html|date=6 July 1996|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> AOL claimed this was to account for sign on/sign off time, but because this practice was not made known to its customers, the plaintiffs won (some also pointed out that signing on and off did not always take 15 seconds, especially when connecting via another ISP). AOL disclosed its connection-time calculation methods to all of its customers and credited them with extra free hours. In addition, the AOL software would notify the user of exactly how long they were connected and how many minutes they were being charged.

AOL was sued by the [[Ohio Attorney General]] in October 2003 for improper billing practices. The case was settled on June 8, 2005. AOL agreed to resolve any consumer [[Consumer complaint|complaints]] filed with the [[Ohio]] AG's office. In December 2006, AOL agreed to provide [[restitution]] to Florida consumers to settle the case filed against them by the [[Florida Attorney General]].<ref name="BBB-AOL">{{Cite web |title=AOL |url=http://www.dc.bbb.org/report.html?national=Y&compid=2087 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100718111258/http://www.dc.bbb.org/report.html?national=Y&compid=2087 |archive-date=July 18, 2010 |access-date=January 22, 2008 |publisher=[[Better Business Bureau]]}}</ref>

=== Account cancellation ===
Many customers complained that AOL personnel ignored their demands to cancel service and stop billing. In response to approximately 300 consumer complaints, the [[New York Attorney General]]'s office began an inquiry of AOL's customer service policies.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} The investigation revealed that the company had an elaborate scheme for rewarding employees who purported to [[Customer retention|retain]] or "save" subscribers who had called to cancel their Internet service. In many instances, such retention was done against subscribers' wishes, or without their consent. Under the scheme, customer service personnel received bonuses worth tens of thousands of dollars if they could successfully dissuade or "save" half of the people who called to cancel service.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} For several years, AOL had instituted minimum retention or "save" percentages, which consumer representatives were expected to meet. These bonuses, and the minimum "save" rates accompanying them, had the effect of employees not honoring cancellations, or otherwise making cancellation unduly difficult for consumers.

On August 24, 2005, America Online agreed to pay $1.25&nbsp;million to the state of New York and reformed its customer service procedures. Under the agreement, AOL would no longer require its customer service representatives to meet a minimum quota for customer retention in order to receive a bonus.<ref name="BBB-AOL" /> However the agreement only covered people in the state of New York.<ref name="pcworld.com">{{Cite magazine |last=Tynan |first=Dan |date=May 26, 2006 |title=The 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/125772/worst_products_ever.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730090626/http://www.pcworld.com/article/125772/worst_products_ever.html |archive-date=July 30, 2014 |access-date=April 15, 2012 |magazine=PCWorld}}</ref>

On June 13, 2006, Vincent Ferrari documented his account cancellation phone call in a blog post,<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 13, 2006 |title=Cancelling AOL |url=http://insignificantthoughts.com/2006/06/13/cancelling-aol/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231075933/http://www.insignificantthoughts.com/2006/06/13/cancelling-aol/ |archive-date=December 31, 2010 |access-date=November 28, 2010 |publisher=insignificantthoughts.com}}</ref> stating he had switched to broadband years earlier. In the recorded phone call, the AOL representative refused to cancel the account unless the 30-year-old Ferrari explained why AOL hours were still being recorded on it. Ferrari insisted that AOL software was not even installed on the computer. When Ferrari demanded that the account be canceled regardless, the AOL representative asked to speak with Ferrari's father, for whom the account had been set up. The conversation was aired on CNBC. When CNBC reporters tried to have an account on AOL cancelled, they were hung up on immediately and it ultimately took more than 45 minutes to cancel the account.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wells |first=Jane |date=June 21, 2006 |title=How hard can it be to cancel an AOL account? |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna13447232 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029180820/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna13447232 |archive-date=October 29, 2020 |access-date=July 24, 2006 |publisher=[[CNBC]]}}</ref>

On July 19, 2006, AOL's entire [[Customer retention|retention]] manual was released on the Internet.<ref>Popken, Ben. (July 19, 2006) [http://www.consumerist.com/consumer/exclusive/aol-retention-manual-uploaded-in-full-188310.php America Online: AOL Retention Manual Uploaded in Full] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603021710/http://consumerist.com/consumer/exclusive/aol-retention-manual-uploaded-in-full-188310.php |date=June 3, 2009 }}. Consumerist.com. Retrieved on July 8, 2011.</ref> On August 3, 2006, [[Time Warner]] announced that the company would be dissolving AOL's retention centers due to its profits hinging on $1&nbsp;billion in cost cuts. The company estimated that it would lose more than six million subscribers over the following year.<ref>[http://www.consumerist.com/consumer/aol/timewarner-dissolves-aol-retention-centers-191878.php AOL: TimeWarner Dissolves AOL Retention Centers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091101054128/http://consumerist.com/consumer/aol/timewarner-dissolves-aol-retention-centers-191878.php |date=November 1, 2009 }}. Consumerist.com (August 3, 2006). Retrieved on July 8, 2011.</ref>

=== Direct marketing of disks ===
[[File:AOL promotional CDs in Canada.jpg|thumb|upright|Some promotional [[CD-ROM]]s distributed in Canada]]
[[File:AOL 9.0 CD.jpg|right|upright|thumb|CD in original mailer]]
Prior to 2006, AOL often sent unsolicited mass [[direct mail]] of 3{{frac|1|2}}" [[floppy disks]] and [[CD-ROM]]s containing their software. They were the most frequent user of this marketing tactic, and received criticism for the environmental cost of the campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rusty Dornin |date=October 18, 2002 |title=Campaign: Send AOL CDs back |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/TECH/internet/10/17/aol.discs/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130519093132/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/TECH/internet/10/17/aol.discs/ |archive-date=May 19, 2013 |access-date=June 12, 2009 |publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> According to ''PC World'', in the 1990s "you couldn't open a magazine (''PC World'' included) or your mailbox without an AOL disk falling out of it".<ref name="pcworld.com" />

The mass distribution of these disks was seen as wasteful by the public and led to protest groups. One such was No More AOL CDs, a web-based effort by two IT workers<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030423062842/http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/home/aol_discs/ What to do with those AOL CDs], a March 2003 [[CBC News]] article</ref> to collect one million disks with the intent to return the disks to AOL.<ref name="nomore" /> The website was started in August 2001, and an estimated 410,176 CDs were collected by August 2007 when the project was shut down.<ref name="nomore">[https://web.archive.org/web/20070820184342/http://www.nomoreaolcds.com/ Internet Archive Wayback Machine 2007 Aug 20 archive of NoMoreAOLCDs.com main page]. Web.archive.org (August 20, 2007). Retrieved on July 8, 2011.</ref>

=== Software ===
In 2000, AOL was served with an $8&nbsp;billion lawsuit alleging that its AOL 5.0 software caused significant difficulties for users attempting to use third-party Internet service providers. The lawsuit sought damages of up to $1000 for each user that had downloaded the software cited at the time of the lawsuit. AOL later agreed to a settlement of $15&nbsp;million, without admission of wrongdoing.<ref>[http://www.gardencitygroup.com/cases/pdf/AOL/AOLNotice.pdf Gardencitygroup.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207121834/http://www.gardencitygroup.com/cases/pdf/AOL/AOLNotice.pdf |date=February 7, 2011 }} (PDF). Retrieved on July 8, 2011.</ref> The AOL software then was given a feature called AOL Dialer, or AOL Connect on {{nowrap|[[macOS|Mac OS X]]}}. This feature allowed users to connect to the ISP without running the full interface. This allowed users to use only the applications they wish to use, especially if they do not favor the AOL Browser.

AOL 9.0 was once identified by [[Stopbadware]] as being ''under investigation''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stopbadware.org |url=http://stopbadware.org/reports/reportdisplay?reportname=aol082706 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070220101412/http://stopbadware.org/reports/reportdisplay?reportname=aol082706 |archive-date=February 20, 2007}}</ref> for installing additional software without disclosure, and modifying browser preferences, toolbars, and icons. However, as of the release of AOL 9.0 VR (Vista Ready) on January 26, 2007, it was no longer considered badware due to changes AOL made in the software.<ref>[http://stopbadware.org/reports/reportdisplay?reportname=aol90vr StopBadware.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729205843/http://stopbadware.org/reports/reportdisplay?reportname=aol90vr |date=July 29, 2012}}. StopBadware.org (January 26, 2007). Retrieved on July 8, 2011.</ref>

=== Usenet newsgroups ===
When AOL gave clients access to [[Usenet]] in 1993, they hid at least one newsgroup in standard list view: ''alt.aol-sucks''. AOL did list the newsgroup in the alternative description view, but changed the description to "Flames and complaints about America Online". With AOL clients swarming [[Usenet]] newsgroups, the old, existing user base started to develop a strong distaste for both AOL and its clients, referring to the new state of affairs as [[Eternal September]].<ref>[http://www.nyupress.org/netwars/pages/chapter03/ch03_.html "The Making of an Underclass: AOL"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505003755/http://www.nyupress.org/netwars/pages/chapter03/ch03_.html |date=May 5, 2011}} ''[[net.wars]]'' Chapter 3, Wendy M. Grossman, NYU Press, 1998.</ref>

AOL discontinued access to Usenet on June 25, 2005.<ref>[http://www.betanews.com/article/AOL_Pulls_Plug_on_Newsgroup_Service/1106664611 AOL Pulls Plug on Newsgroup Service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204004332/http://www.betanews.com/article/AOL_Pulls_Plug_on_Newsgroup_Service/1106664611 |date=December 4, 2008 }}. BetaNews. Retrieved on July 8, 2011.</ref> No official details were provided as to the cause of decommissioning Usenet access, except providing users the suggestion to access Usenet services from a third-party, [[Google Groups]]. AOL then provided community-based [[Internet Forum|message boards]] in lieu of Usenet.

=== Terms of Service (TOS) ===
AOL has a detailed set of guidelines and expectations for users on their service, known as the [[Terms of Service]] (TOS, also known as Conditions of Service (COS) in the UK). It is separated into three different sections: ''Member Agreement'', ''Community Guidelines'' and ''Privacy Policy''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AOL terms of service |url=https://help.aol.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102134253/http://help.channels.aol.com/kjump.adp?articleId=221224 |archive-date=November 2, 2007 |website=help.channels.aol.com/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Conditions of Service |url=https://help.aol.co.uk/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501135751/http://help.aol.co.uk/conditions-of-service/article/20060802090809990001 |archive-date=May 1, 2010 |website=help.aol.co.uk/}}</ref> All three agreements are presented to users at time of registration and digital acceptance is achieved when they access the AOL service. During the period when volunteer chat room hosts and board monitors were used, chat room hosts were given a brief online training session and test on Terms of Service violations.

There have been many complaints over rules that govern an AOL user's conduct. Some users disagree with the TOS, citing the guidelines are too strict to follow coupled with the fact the TOS may change without users being made aware. A considerable cause for this was likely due to alleged censorship of user-generated content during the earlier years of growth for AOL.<ref>[http://www.aolwatch.org/censory.htm Aolwatch.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717024229/http://www.aolwatch.org/censory.htm |date=July 17, 2011 }}. Aolwatch.org (July 25, 1996). Retrieved on July 8, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/article.asp?ID=3912 Thetruthseeker.co.uk<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100913005509/http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/article.asp?ID=3912 |date=September 13, 2010}}, The Truth Seeker – Internet Censorship</ref><ref>[http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/AOLcensorship1.htm Censorship on AOL Late 1998–1999] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701081405/http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/AOLcensorship1.htm |date=July 1, 2010 }}. Fglaysher.com (March 9, 1999). Retrieved on July 8, 2011.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Electronic Frontier Foundation |url=https://www.eff.org/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706082033/http://w2.eff.org/Censorship/Online_services/?f=aol_secret_tos.manual.txt |archive-date=July 6, 2010 |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation}}</ref>

=== Certified email ===
In early 2005, AOL stated its intention to implement a [[certified email]] system called Goodmail, which will allow companies to send email to users with whom they have pre-existing business relationships, with a visual indication that the email is from a trusted source and without the risk that the email messages might be blocked or stripped by [[spam filter]]s.

This decision drew fire from [[MoveOn]], which characterized the program as an "email tax", and the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] (EFF), which characterized it as a shakedown of non-profits.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cindy Cohn |author-link=Cindy Cohn |date=February 8, 2006 |title=AOL, Yahoo and Goodmail: Taxing Your Email for Fun and Profit |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/004398.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109051128/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/004398.php |archive-date=January 9, 2017 |access-date=December 4, 2016 |publisher=[[Electronic Frontier Foundation|EFF]]}}</ref> A website called Dearaol.com<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stop AOL's Email Tax |url=http://www.dearaol.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104175854/http://www.dearaol.com/ |archive-date=January 4, 2007 |access-date=November 28, 2010 |publisher=dearaol.com}}</ref> was launched, with an online petition and a blog that garnered hundreds of signatures from people and organizations expressing their opposition to AOL's use of Goodmail.

[[Esther Dyson]] defended the move in an editorial in ''[[The New York Times]]'', saying "I hope Goodmail succeeds, and that it has lots of competition. I also think it and its competitors will eventually transform into services that more directly serve the interests of mail recipients. Instead of the fees going to Goodmail and AOL, they will also be shared with the individual recipients."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dyson, Esther |author-link=Esther Dyson |date=March 17, 2006 |title=You've Got Goodmail |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/17/opinion/17dyson.html?ex=1300251600&en=04138dcf8237c907&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060625165826/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/17/opinion/17dyson.html?ex=1300251600&en=04138dcf8237c907&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss |archive-date=June 25, 2006 |access-date=July 24, 2006 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

Tim Lee of the Technology Liberation Front<ref>[http://www.techliberation.com/archives/038303.php Techliberation.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807164643/http://www.techliberation.com/archives/038303.php |date=August 7, 2008}}. Techliberation.com. Retrieved on July 8, 2011.</ref> posted an article that questioned the Electronic Frontier Foundation's adopting a confrontational posture when dealing with private companies. Lee's article cited a series of discussions<ref>{{Cite web |title=Debate over DearAOL.com between Suresh Ramasubramanian and Danny O'Brien |url=http://www.politechbot.com/2006/04/15/debate-over-dearaolcom/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060425214743/http://www.politechbot.com/2006/04/15/debate-over-dearaolcom/ |archive-date=April 25, 2006 |access-date=November 28, 2010 |publisher=politechbot.com}}</ref> on [[Declan McCullagh]]'s Politechbot mailing list on this subject between the EFF's Danny O'Brien and antispammer Suresh Ramasubramanian, who has also compared<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramasubramanian |first=Suresh |date=May 12, 2006 |title=EFF and Its Use of Propaganda: Could Karl Rove do better? Probably |url=http://www.circleid.com/posts/eff_use_of_propaganda_karl_rove/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812061318/http://www.circleid.com/posts/eff_use_of_propaganda_karl_rove/ |archive-date=August 12, 2010 |access-date=November 28, 2010 |publisher=CircleID}}</ref> the EFF's tactics in opposing Goodmail to tactics used by Republican political strategist [[Karl Rove]]. [[Spamassassin|SpamAssassin]] developer [[Justin Mason]] posted some criticism of the EFF's and Moveon's "going overboard" in their opposition to the scheme.

The dearaol.com campaign lost momentum and disappeared, with the last post to the now defunct dearaol.com blog—"AOL starts the shakedown" being made on May 9, 2006.

[[Comcast]], who also used the service, announced on its website that Goodmail had ceased operations and as of February 4, 2011, they no longer used the service.<ref>[http://security.comcast.net/certifiedemail/?cid=NET_33_1210&fss=certified%20email Security.comcast.net] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319210144/http://security.comcast.net/certifiedemail/?cid=NET_33_1210&fss=certified%20email |date=March 19, 2012}}, February 4, 2011</ref>

=== Search data ===
{{Main|AOL search data scandal}}
On August 4, 2006, AOL released a compressed text file on one of its websites containing 20&nbsp;million search [[Index term|keywords]] for over 650,000 users over a three-month period between March 1 and May 31, 2006, intended for research purposes. AOL pulled the file from public access by August 7, but not before its wide distribution on the Internet by others. Derivative research, titled ''A Picture of Search'',<ref>[http://www.ir.iit.edu/~abdur/publications/pos-infoscale.pdf IR.iit.edu] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060819050834/http://www.ir.iit.edu/~abdur/publications/pos-infoscale.pdf |date=August 19, 2006}}. (PDF) . Retrieved on July 8, 2011.</ref> was published by authors Pass, Chowdhury and Torgeson for The First International Conference on Scalable Information Systems.<ref>[http://www.cs.hku.hk/infoscale06/ CS.hku.hk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927144205/http://www.cs.hku.hk/infoscale06/ |date=September 27, 2011 }}. CS.hku.hk. Retrieved on July 8, 2011.</ref>

The data were used by websites such as AOLstalker<ref>{{Cite web |title=AOLstalker homepage |url=http://www.aolstalker.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929095517/http://www.aolstalker.com/ |archive-date=September 29, 2017 |access-date=September 28, 2018}}</ref> for entertainment purposes, where users of AOLstalker are encouraged to judge AOL clients based on the humorousness of personal details revealed by search behavior.

=== User list exposure ===
In 2003, Jason Smathers, an AOL employee, was convicted of stealing America Online's 92&nbsp;million screen names and selling them to a known spammer. Smathers pled guilty to conspiracy charges in 2005.<ref name="MSNBC">{{Cite web |date=August 17, 2005 |title=Ex-AOL Worker Who Stole E-Mail List Sentenced |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna8985989 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018142954/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna8985989 |archive-date=October 18, 2023 |access-date=August 3, 2024 |website=[[NBC News]]}}, August 17, 2005</ref><ref name="TSG-PairNabbed">{{Cite web |date=June 23, 2004 |title=Pair Nabbed in AOL Spam Scheme |url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0623042aol1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201093245/http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0623042aol1.html |archive-date=December 1, 2009 |access-date=February 3, 2008 |website=[[TheSmokingGun.com]]}}</ref> Smathers pled guilty to violations of the US [[CAN-SPAM Act of 2003]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 4, 2005 |title=Ex-AOL Employee Pleads Guilty in Spam Case |url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/internet/02/04/aol.spam.plea/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828112527/http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/internet/02/04/aol.spam.plea/ |archive-date=August 28, 2010 |access-date=March 7, 2007 |work=[[CNN]]]}}</ref> He was sentenced in August 2005 to 15 months in prison; the sentencing judge also recommended Smathers be forced to pay $84,000 in restitution, triple the $28,000 that he sold the addresses for.<ref name="MSNBC" />

=== AOL's Computer Checkup "scareware" ===
On February 27, 2012, a [[Class action|class action lawsuit]] was filed against [[Support.com]], Inc. and partner [[AOL, Inc.]] The lawsuit alleged Support.com and AOL's Computer Checkup "[[scareware]]" (which uses software developed by Support.com) misrepresented that their software programs would identify and resolve a host of technical problems with computers, offered to perform a free "scan", which often found problems with users' computers. The companies then offered to sell software—for which AOL allegedly charged $4.99 a month and Support.com $29—to remedy those problems.<ref name="MediaPost">{{Cite news |last=Davis, Wendy |date=May 20, 2013 |title=AOL, Support.Com Settle Scareware Lawsuit for $8.5 Million |url=http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/200692/aol-supportcom-settle-scareware-lawsuit-for-85.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009201252/http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/200692/aol-supportcom-settle-scareware-lawsuit-for-85.html |archive-date=October 9, 2014 |access-date=October 7, 2014 |work=MediaPost}}</ref> Both AOL, Inc. and Support.com, Inc. settled on May 30, 2013, for $8.5&nbsp;million. This included $25.00 to each valid class member and $100,000 each to [[Consumer Watchdog]] and the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Judgment Order for Lagarde v. Support.com Inc. |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/candce/3:2012cv00609/251021/61 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727043555/https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/candce/3:2012cv00609/251021/61/ |archive-date=July 27, 2020 |access-date=March 12, 2020 |website=Justia Dockets & Filings}}</ref> Judge [[Jacqueline Scott Corley]] wrote: "Distributing a portion of the [funds] to Consumer Watchdog will meet the interests of the silent class members because the organization will use the funds to help protect consumers across the nation from being subject to the types of fraudulent and misleading conduct that is alleged here," and "EFF's mission includes a strong consumer protection component, especially in regards to online protection."<ref name=MediaPost/>

AOL continues to market Computer Checkup.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014 |title=AOL Computer Checkup: Clean & Speed Up Your Slow PC – Try It Free |url=http://computercheckup.aol.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009221022/http://computercheckup.aol.com/ |archive-date=October 9, 2014 |access-date=October 7, 2014 |publisher=AOL Inc.}}</ref>

=== NSA PRISM program ===
Following media reports about [[PRISM]], NSA's massive electronic [[Mass surveillance|surveillance program]], in June 2013, several technology companies were identified as participants, including AOL. According to leaks of said program, AOL joined the PRISM program in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Greenwald |first=Glenn |last2=MacAskill |first2=Ewen |date=June 7, 2013 |title=NSA Prism Program Taps in to User Data of Apple, Google and Others |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/06/us-tech-giants-nsa-data |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207210041/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/06/us-tech-giants-nsa-data |archive-date=February 7, 2019 |access-date=December 17, 2016 |website=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited}}</ref>

=== Hosting of user profiles changed, then discontinued ===
At one time, most AOL users had an online "profile" hosted by the [[AOL Hometown]] service. When AOL Hometown was discontinued, users had to create a new profile on [[Bebo]]. This was an unsuccessful attempt to create a social network that would compete with Facebook. When the value of Bebo decreased to a tiny fraction of the $850&nbsp;million AOL paid for it, users were forced to recreate their profiles yet again, on a new service called AOL Lifestream.

AOL decided to shut down Lifestream on February 24, 2017, and gave users one month's notice to save photos and videos that had been uploaded to Lifestream.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AOL Lifestream Sunset Notification |url=https://help.aol.com/articles/aol-lifestream-sunset-notification |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926144012/https://help.aol.com/articles/aol-lifestream-sunset-notification |archive-date=September 26, 2017 |access-date=April 13, 2017}}</ref> Following the shutdown, AOL no longer provides any option for hosting user profiles.

During the Hometown/Bebo/Lifestream era, another user's profile could be displayed by clicking the "Buddy Info" button in the AOL Desktop software. After the shutdown of Lifestream, this was no longer supported, but opened to the [[AOL Instant Messenger|AIM]] home page (www.aim.com), which also became defunct, redirecting to AOL's home page.

== See also ==
{{cols|colwidth=32em}}
* [[Adrian Lamo]] – Inside-AOL.com
* [[AOHell]]
* [[Comparison of webmail providers]]
* [[David Shing]]
* [[Dot-com bubble]]
* [[Elwood Edwards]]
* [[List of acquisitions by AOL]]
* [[List of S&P 400 companies]]
* [[Live365]]
* [[Truveo]]
{{colend}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
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* {{Official website}}

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