My teenage son regards email and IM as something old people use. Of course, this was until Facebook added email features and suddenly it's OK to be seen using it.

FYI: Its possible to get a FB account without a "real" email address. ie Use a one-time address like 10 minute mail. I've had an account for about 2 years with this method, never been a problem

> pretty much everyone is on one of the IM networks.

I know a lot of people who have ditched their previous IM accounts in favour of the Fb IM platform.

Tim doesn't look at just the present state but at the trend. Other posters have noted that many people abandon or don't see the use for IM or email when they use Facebook to communicate.

If people stop following their email or logging in to their IM because they communicate using Facebook, it could change quickly.