AOL announced it is discontinuing dial-up internet.
AOL dial-up Internet will forever hold a sacred place in the hearts of Millennials (and older generations) who grew up using it, but after more than 30 years, it is finally being discontinued. AOL announced that the service will officially be shut off on Sept. 30, 2025.
The news sent Millennials down memory lane online, sharing their nostalgic childhood stories and experiences with AOL's dial-up Internet on online forums.
"An era coming to an end in a cacophony of screeching static," one Millennial commented, referring to AOL's iconic dial-up tone that always happened when it was "loading'" for use. "idk why but this made me sad," another added.
"AOL dial-up was not just the internet, okay? It was an experience," Instagrammer Nicole Dent shared in a hilarious clip memorializing it from her Millennial upbringing. "The tone, the beeps, the static...that may just sound like a robot getting a chiropractic adjustment. But to us, that was the sound of freedom. And by freedom that meant asking A/S/L in chatrooms we had absolutely no business in."
Many reminisced on using discs of free Internet. "So are all my discs of free internet hours going to be worthless? Lost, like tears in the rain," one wrote. "Better hurry and finish that free trial!" another added, while another Xennial quipped, "But I still have like 50 of those cds left."
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Millennials also got nostalgic about AIM instant messenger and chat rooms. "Still time to log into my username IX_THE ANGEL_XI!" one commented. Another wrote, "Meet my wife in an AOL chat room almost 30 years ago." One shared, "August 4th, 1999. At this point in time I was probably spending 4hrs a day in the chatrooms, and was already talking with the girl who would become my wife 4 years later."
Others were shocked to learn that dial-up Internet was still in use. "Gotta admit, people using dial up internet in 2025 wasn’t on my bingo card," one wrote. One agreed, saying, "At first I was kind of shocked it's still around, but internet in rural areas can still be kinda hit or miss. I've had friends not be able to get high speed internet, so I really shouldn't be surprised."
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While some were shocked, others explained why dial-up was still preferred today. "Motivations for sticking with dial-up include lack of alternatives, habit, cost concerns and even perceived security benefits (“not always connected” feels safer to them). A few keep it as a backup connection in case broadband fails. While some hold on for pure nostalgia. Go figure," one Xennial explained.
Other Xennials and Millennials discussed missing the simplicity of the Internet back then. "I miss AOL and it’s chat rooms. AIM, Yahoo Chat Rooms. I miss what the internet used to be. Amateur websites with lots of gifs and creativity. Internet used to be so simple and mysterious back then, now it’s just boring and it feels like there’s no more mystery to it," one noted.
We'll end with this comment that sums it all up: "The days of AOL were the good old days of the Internet."
RIP, AOL dial-up Internet. You will be missed.