History of AOL in Timeline

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AOL

AOL is an American web portal and former online service provider, currently based in New York City. Formerly a prominent player in the early internet era, providing dial-up access, email, and instant messaging services, AOL has since transitioned into a media company. The brand is now marketed by Bending Spoons, an Italian conglomerate, signifying a shift in ownership and strategic focus.

January 1983: Steve Case hired as marketing consultant for Control Video

In January 1983, Steve Case was hired as a marketing consultant for Control Video, marking his initial involvement with the company that would become AOL.

May 1983: Jim Kimsey becomes manufacturing consultant for Control Video

In May 1983, Jim Kimsey became a manufacturing consultant for Control Video, a company nearing bankruptcy. This was a crucial step in the company's restructuring.

1983: Control Video Corporation (CVC) founded

In 1983, AOL began as 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.

1983: PlayNet, Inc. founded

In 1983, PlayNet, Inc. was founded by Howard Goldberg and Dave Panzl. The Quantum Link software was based on software licensed from PlayNet, Inc..

May 24, 1985: Quantum Computer Services founded

On May 24, 1985, Quantum Computer Services, an online services company, was founded by Jim Kimsey from the remnants of Control Video. This marked a new beginning for the company under new leadership.

November 1985: Quantum Link (Q-Link) went online

In November 1985, Quantum Link (Q-Link) went online after PlayNET licensed its software to it. This marked an early step in the evolution of what would become AOL.

1985: Quantum Link (Q-Link) launched for Commodore computers

In 1985, Quantum Link (Q-Link) launched as a dedicated online service for Commodore 64 and 128 computers. The Quantum Link software was based on software licensed from PlayNet, Inc.

1985: William von Meister leaves Control Video

In 1985, William von Meister left Control Video Corporation. This departure marked a shift in leadership and direction for the company.

1987: Steve Case promoted to executive vice-president

In 1987, Steve Case was promoted to executive vice-president. This advancement highlighted his growing influence within Quantum Computer Services.

May 1988: AppleLink Personal Edition launched

In May 1988, Quantum and Apple launched AppleLink Personal Edition for Apple II and Macintosh computers, expanding their services to Apple users.

August 1988: PC Link launched for IBM-compatible PCs

In August 1988, Quantum launched PC Link, a service for IBM-compatible PCs developed in a joint venture with the Tandy Corporation, further broadening its user base.

1988: AOL offered the first online courses

In 1988, AOL offered the first online courses, pioneering the concept of online education.

1988: New IBM PC client launched

In 1988, a new IBM PC client was launched. This indicated the company's expansion to cater to IBM PC users, broadening its user base and service offerings.

October 1989: Service name changed to America Online

In October 1989, after parting ways with Apple, Quantum changed the service's name to America Online. This rebranding marked a pivotal moment in the company's history.

1989: America Online (AOL) renamed

In 1989, the service was renamed to America Online (AOL). This rebranding marked a significant step in the company's development, setting the stage for its future growth and dominance in the online services market.

1990: AOL offered the first real-time homework help service

In 1990, AOL offered the first real-time homework help service (the Teacher Pager), predating homework help bulletin boards. They also launched the first omnibus service for teachers (the Teachers' Information Network).

February 1991: AOL for IBM PC compatibles running MS-DOS launched

In February 1991, AOL for IBM PC compatibles running MS-DOS was launched using a GeoWorks interface, expanding AOL's accessibility to a wider range of users.

1991: AOL launches first service for children and parents

In 1991, AOL launched the first service by children, for children (Kids Only Online), and the first online service for parents (the Parents Information Network).

1991: Steve Case becomes CEO

In 1991, Steve Case became CEO when Jim Kimsey retired. This transition marked a new era of leadership for the company.

September 1993: AOL adds Usenet access

In September 1993, AOL added Usenet access to its features. This addition contributed to the phenomenon commonly referred to as the "Eternal September".

1993: AOL Clients Gain Access to Usenet

In 1993, when AOL gave clients access to Usenet, they hid at least one newsgroup in standard list view: alt.aol-sucks, leading to distaste from the existing user base for AOL and its clients.

November 1994: AOL purchases Booklink for web browser

In November 1994, AOL purchased Booklink for its web browser to give its users web access, indicating AOL's efforts to integrate web browsing capabilities.

1995: AOL reaches three million active users

By 1995, AOL had about three million active users. This milestone demonstrated AOL's rapid growth and increasing popularity as a leading online service provider.

1995: AOL purchased search engine WebCrawler

In 1995, AOL purchased search engine WebCrawler. This acquisition aimed to enhance AOL's search capabilities.

1995: AOL headquartered in Tysons Corner CDP

In 1995, AOL was headquartered at 8619 Westwood Center Drive in the Tysons Corner CDP in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia.

March 31, 1996: AOL purchased eWorld

On March 31, 1996, the short-lived eWorld was purchased by AOL. This acquisition further expanded AOL's services and reach.

October 1996: AOL running out of room in Fairfax County

In October 1996, AOL was quickly running out of room for its network at the Fairfax County campus, indicating the need for expansion.

October 1996: AOL Offers Unlimited Access

In October 1996, market conditions forced AOL to offer unlimited access, leading to a shift in focus from content creation to advertising to maintain profitability.

December 1996: AOL switches to flat monthly rate

In December 1996, AOL changed from an hourly fee to a flat monthly rate of $19.95. This shift led to a surge in users and connection issues.

1996: AOL Scales Back Community Leader Roles

After unlimited access was implemented, AOL considered scrapping the community leader program entirely but continued it with a reduced number of community leaders, with scaled-back roles in creating content from 1996.

1996: AOL replaces Booklink with Internet Explorer-based browser

In 1996, AOL replaced Booklink with a browser based on Internet Explorer, reportedly in exchange for inclusion of AOL in Windows. This collaboration aimed to enhance AOL's browser capabilities.

1996: AOL Relies on Community Leaders for Content Moderation

In 1996, AOL used a system of 33,000 volunteers, referred to as community leaders, to moderate its chat rooms, forums and user communities, receiving free access in exchange for moderating the chat rooms and creating or overseeing up to 90% of AOL's content.

1996: AOL experiences major outage

On August 07, 1996, AOL experienced a total outage starting at 1:00 AM PST that would last nineteen hours and took over six million people offline. This major outage highlighted the challenges of rapid growth.

March 1997: AOL launched NetFind

After the deal closed in March 1997, AOL launched its own branded search engine, based on Excite, called NetFind.

1997: AOL becomes dominant online service

In 1997, about half of all US homes with Internet access had it through AOL. AOL became the dominant online service internationally with more than 34 million subscribers.

February 1998: AOL acquired CompuServe Interactive Services (CIS)

In February 1998, AOL acquired CompuServe Interactive Services (CIS) via WorldCom (later Verizon), which kept Compuware's networking business. This acquisition consolidated AOL's position in the online services market.

November 1998: AOL announces acquisition of Netscape

In November 1998, AOL announced it would acquire Netscape, best known for their web browser, in a major $4.2 billion deal.

1998: AOL purchases Netscape

In 1998, AOL purchased Netscape for US$4.2 billion. This acquisition expanded AOL's capabilities and influence in the internet market.

March 17, 1999: AOL acquisition of Netscape deal closed

On March 17, 1999, the deal for AOL to acquire Netscape closed, finalizing the major acquisition.

May 1999: Lawsuit Filed Against AOL Over Volunteer Program

In May 1999, two former volunteers filed a class-action lawsuit alleging AOL violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by treating volunteers like employees.

December 1999: AOL acquired MapQuest

In December 1999, AOL acquired MapQuest for $1.1 billion, expanding its service offerings.

1999: Over 15,000 Volunteers in AOL Program

By 1999, there were over 15,000 volunteers in the AOL community leader program.

1999: NetFind was renamed AOL Search

In 1999, NetFind was renamed AOL Search. This rebranding aimed to align the search engine with the AOL brand.

January 2000: AOL and Time Warner announce plans to merge

In January 2000, AOL and Time Warner announced plans to merge, forming AOL Time Warner, Inc. This merger was one of the largest in history.

2000: AOL provides internet service to over 20 million consumers

By 2000, AOL was providing internet service to over 20 million consumers, dominating the market of internet service providers (ISPs).

2000: AOL Faces $8 Billion Lawsuit Over AOL 5.0 Software

In 2000, AOL was served with an $8 billion lawsuit alleging that its AOL 5.0 software caused significant difficulties for users attempting to use third-party Internet service providers.

January 11, 2001: AOL and Time Warner merger deal closed

On January 11, 2001, the deal between AOL and Time Warner closed, forming AOL Time Warner, Inc. The new company was led by executives from both AOL, SBI, and Time Warner.

August 2001: No More AOL CDs Website Started

In August 2001, the website "No More AOL CDs" was started by two IT workers to collect one million disks with the intent to return the disks to AOL.

2001: AOL purchases Time Warner

In 2001, AOL purchased the media conglomerate Time Warner in the largest merger in US history at the height of its popularity. This marked a peak in AOL's influence before its subsequent decline.

2002: Jonathan Miller becomes CEO of AOL

In 2002, Jonathan Miller became CEO of AOL. This leadership change occurred during a period of significant market shifts.

October 2003: AOL Sued by Ohio Attorney General

In October 2003, AOL was sued by the Ohio Attorney General for improper billing practices.

2003: Jason Smathers convicted

In 2003, Jason Smathers, an AOL employee, was convicted of stealing 92 million America Online screen names and selling them to a spammer.

2004: AOL 9.0 Optimized launched with personalized greetings option

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.

June 8, 2005: AOL Ends Community Leader Program

On June 8, 2005, AOL ended its community leader program.

June 25, 2005: AOL Discontinues Access to Usenet

On June 25, 2005, AOL discontinued access to Usenet, providing community-based message boards in lieu of Usenet.

August 2005: Jason Smathers sentenced

In August 2005, Jason Smathers was sentenced to 15 months in prison for stealing and selling America Online's 92 million screen names. He was also recommended to pay $84,000 in restitution.

August 24, 2005: AOL Pays $1.25 Million to New York State

On August 24, 2005, America Online agreed to pay $1.25 million to the state of New York and reformed its customer service procedures, no longer requiring customer service representatives to meet retention quotas for bonuses.

December 20, 2005: Google to purchase a 5% share of AOL

On December 20, 2005, it was revealed that Google would purchase a 5% share of AOL for $1 billion. This investment signaled a partnership between the two tech giants.

2005: AOL Announces Goodmail Certified Email System

In early 2005, AOL stated its intention to implement a certified email system called Goodmail, aimed at providing a visual indication for trusted sources and avoiding spam filters for companies with pre-existing business relationships with users.

April 3, 2006: AOL to Retire Full Name America Online

On April 3, 2006, AOL announced it would retire its full name, America Online. The official service name became AOL, and the Time Warner subdivision's name changed to AOL LLC.

May 9, 2006: Dearaol.com Campaign Lost Momentum

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

May 31, 2006: End date for AOL Search Keyword data

On May 31, 2006, the collection of search keywords for over 650,000 users ended. This data was later released on August 4, 2006.

June 8, 2006: AOL Offers AOL Active Security Monitor

On June 8, 2006, AOL introduced AOL Active Security Monitor, a tool to assess PC security and suggest security software from AOL or Download.com.

June 13, 2006: Vincent Ferrari's Account Cancellation Phone Call Documented

On June 13, 2006, Vincent Ferrari documented his account cancellation phone call in a blog post, revealing difficulties in canceling his AOL account and sparking widespread criticism of AOL's customer service practices.

July 19, 2006: AOL's Retention Manual Leaked

On July 19, 2006, AOL's entire retention manual was released on the Internet.

August 3, 2006: Time Warner Dissolves AOL's Retention Centers

On August 3, 2006, Time Warner announced that the company would be dissolving AOL's retention centers due to its profits hinging on $1 billion in cost cuts, estimating a loss of over six million subscribers in the following year.

August 4, 2006: AOL releases search keyword data

On August 4, 2006, AOL released a compressed text file containing 20 million search keywords for over 650,000 users on one of its websites for research purposes.

August 2006: AOL Offers Free Email Accounts

In August 2006, AOL announced free email accounts and software previously exclusive to paying customers, provided users accessed AOL or AOL.com through non-AOL access methods, aiming to cut costs and retain members.

October 2006: Carphone Warehouse Buys AOL UK ISP Side

In October 2006, Carphone Warehouse acquired AOL UK's ISP operations to leverage its 100,000 LLU customers, becoming the UK's largest LLU provider.

November 16, 2006: Randy Falco Succeeds Jonathan Miller as CEO

On November 16, 2006, Randy Falco took over from Jonathan Miller as the CEO of AOL.

December 2006: AOL Agrees to Restitution for Florida Consumers

In December 2006, AOL agreed to provide restitution to Florida consumers to settle a case filed against them by the Florida Attorney General.

December 2006: AOL Closes Last US Call Center

In December 2006, AOL closed its final U.S. call center, shifting customer support to service centers in India and the Philippines.

2006: Criticism of AOL's Mass Mailing of Disks

Prior to 2006, AOL frequently sent unsolicited mass direct mail of floppy disks and CD-ROMs containing their software, attracting criticism for the environmental cost of the campaign.

2006: Criticism for AOL's Marketing Tactics

Prior to 2006, AOL received criticism for its community policies, terms of service, customer service, and especially its direct mailing of CD-ROMs and 3.5-inch floppy disks containing its software, with AOL CDs recognized as PC World's most annoying tech product.

January 26, 2007: AOL 9.0 VR Released

On January 26, 2007, AOL 9.0 VR (Vista Ready) was released. It was no longer considered badware due to changes AOL made in the software.

August 2007: No More AOL CDs Project Shut Down

In August 2007, the "No More AOL CDs" project was shut down, having collected an estimated 410,176 CDs.

September 17, 2007: AOL Announces Relocation of Corporate HQ to New York City

On September 17, 2007, AOL announced it was moving a corporate headquarters from Dulles, Virginia, to New York City and forming Platform A, a new advertising subsidiary, highlighting the company's shift to advertising-driven business models. Significant operations, including access services, remained in Dulles.

October 15, 2007: Falco Announces Layoff Plans

On October 15, 2007, Randy Falco announced plans to lay off 2,000 AOL employees worldwide by the end of 2007, which resulted in about 40% of AOL's workforce being laid off. Compensation included a minimum of 120 days of severance pay, with 60 days offered in lieu of the WARN Act's 60-day notice.

October 2007: AOL Announces Relocation of Headquarters and Layoffs

In October 2007, AOL announced the relocation of another headquarters from Loudoun County, Virginia, to New York City. AOL also announced plans to lay off 2,000 employees worldwide by the end of 2007.

November 2007: AOL's Customer Base Reduced

By November 2007, AOL's customer base decreased to 10.1 million subscribers.

December 2007: Conversion Rate of Paid to Free Access Accounts

According to Falco, as of December 2007, the conversion rate of accounts from paid access to free access was more than 80%.

2007: AOL Desktop Released

In 2007, AOL Desktop, an internet suite integrating a web browser, media player, and instant messenger client, was released by AOL. Version 10.X was based on AOL OpenRide and the macOS version is based on WebKit.

2007: AOL Toolbar Launched

In 2007, AOL offered AOL Toolbar, a browser toolbar Mozilla plug-in, for several web browsers that provided quick access to AOL services.

January 3, 2008: AOL Closes Reston, Virginia, Data Center

On January 3, 2008, AOL announced the closure of its Reston, Virginia, data center, which was then sold to CRG West.

March 13, 2008: AOL Purchases Bebo

On March 13, 2008, AOL acquired the social networking site Bebo for $850 million (£417 million).

March 12, 2009: Tim Armstrong Named CEO of AOL

On March 12, 2009, Tim Armstrong, formerly with Google, was appointed as the chairman and CEO of AOL.

2009: AOL spun off from Time Warner

In 2009, AOL was spun off from Time Warner, with Tim Armstrong appointed as the new CEO. This marked a significant shift as AOL began to operate independently again.

2009: Community Leader Program Described as Co-production

In a 2009 article in the International Journal of Cultural Studies, AOL's community leader program was described as an example of co-production.

April 6, 2010: AOL to Shutter or Sell Bebo

On April 6, 2010, AOL announced plans to either close down or sell Bebo.

September 28, 2010: AOL to Acquire TechCrunch

On September 28, 2010, AOL signed an agreement at the San Francisco TechCrunch Disrupt Conference to acquire TechCrunch.

December 12, 2010: AOL Acquires About.me

On December 12, 2010, AOL acquired about.me, a personal profile and identity platform, four days after its public launch.

2010: AOL Settles Volunteer Lawsuit

In 2010, AOL finally agreed to settle the lawsuit over its volunteer program for $15 million.

January 31, 2011: AOL Acquires Goviral

On January 31, 2011, AOL announced its acquisition of the European video distribution network goviral.

February 4, 2011: Comcast Ceases Use of Goodmail

On February 4, 2011, Comcast announced that Goodmail had ceased operations and they no longer used the service.

March 2011: AOL Acquires HuffPost

In March 2011, AOL acquired HuffPost for $315 million. Soon after, Arianna Huffington replaced David Eun as president and editor-in-chief of the AOL Huffington Post Media Group. On March 10, AOL announced 900 job cuts after the acquisition.

September 14, 2011: AOL Forms Ad-Selling Partnership with Yahoo and Microsoft

On September 14, 2011, AOL partnered with Yahoo and Microsoft to sell ads on each other's sites, aiming to compete with Google and other ad networks.

2011: AOL joins PRISM program

According to leaks, AOL joined the PRISM program in 2011, which is NSA's massive electronic surveillance program.

February 27, 2012: Class action lawsuit filed against AOL and Support.com

On February 27, 2012, a class action lawsuit was filed against Support.com, Inc. and partner AOL, Inc. The lawsuit alleged Support.com and AOL's Computer Checkup scareware misrepresented that their software programs would identify and resolve technical problems with computers.

February 28, 2012: AOL Partners with PBS to Launch MAKERS

On February 28, 2012, AOL partnered with PBS to launch MAKERS, a digital documentary series highlighting high-achieving women. The series featured notable women such as Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton, and Sheryl Sandberg.

March 15, 2012: AOL Acquires Hipster

On March 15, 2012, AOL announced the acquisition of Hipster, a mobile photo-sharing app, for an undisclosed amount.

April 9, 2012: AOL Sells Patents to Microsoft

On April 9, 2012, AOL announced an agreement to sell 800 patents to Microsoft for $1.056 billion, including a perpetual license for AOL to use the patents.

February 2013: AOL Reports Revenue Growth

In February 2013, AOL reported a fourth-quarter revenue of $599.5 million, marking its first quarterly revenue growth in eight years.

May 30, 2013: Settlement reached in class action lawsuit

On May 30, 2013, AOL, Inc. and Support.com, Inc. settled the class action lawsuit for $8.5 million. This included $25.00 to each valid class member and $100,000 each to Consumer Watchdog and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

June 2013: AOL identified as participant in PRISM program

In June 2013, following media reports about PRISM, NSA's massive electronic surveillance program, AOL was identified as a participant.

August 2013: Patch Media to Scale Back or Sell Sites

In August 2013, AOL announced that Patch Media would reduce its operations, including scaling back or selling hundreds of its local news sites. Layoffs followed, affecting up to 500 of 1,100 positions.

2013: AOL Acquires AdapTV

In 2013, AOL acquired AdapTV as part of forming ONE by AOL.

January 15, 2014: Patch Media Spun Off

On January 15, 2014, Patch Media was spun off from AOL, with Hale Global holding the majority ownership.

January 23, 2014: AOL Acquires Gravity

On January 23, 2014, AOL acquired Gravity, a software startup specializing in online behavior tracking and personalized content delivery, for $83 million.

July 16, 2014: AOL Earns Emmy Nomination for "The Future Starts Here"

On July 16, 2014, AOL's original series "The Future Starts Here" received an Emmy nomination in the News and Documentary category.

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December 1, 2014: AOL Acquires Vidible

On December 1, 2014, AOL acquired Vidible, a video content distribution and sales technology company, for approximately $50 million.

2014: AOL Acquires Convertro, Precision Demand, and Vidible

In 2014, AOL acquired Convertro, Precision Demand, and Vidible to help form ONE by AOL.

April 14, 2015: AOL Launches ONE by AOL

On April 14, 2015, AOL launched ONE by AOL, a programmatic platform for digital marketing designed to unify buying channels and audience management.

May 8, 2015: AOL Reports First-Quarter Revenue

On May 8, 2015, AOL reported a first-quarter revenue of $625.1 million, with $483.5 million from advertising, up 7% from Q1 2014.

May 12, 2015: Verizon to Acquire AOL

On May 12, 2015, Verizon announced its plans to acquire AOL for $50 per share, valuing the deal at $4.4 billion.

June 29, 2015: AOL Announces Deal with Microsoft

On June 29, 2015, AOL announced an agreement to take over the majority of Microsoft's digital advertising business. This included the transfer of 1,200 Microsoft employees to AOL, and the sale of display, video, and mobile ads on Microsoft platforms in nine countries. Additionally, Bing replaced Google Search on AOL properties.

July 22, 2015: AOL Receives Emmy Nominations

On July 22, 2015, AOL received two News and Documentary Emmy nominations: one for MAKERS and another for True Trans With Laura Jane Grace.

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September 3, 2015: AOL to Buy Millennial Media

On September 3, 2015, AOL agreed to acquire Millennial Media for $238 million.

October 1, 2015: Go90 Public Launch

On October 1, 2015, Go90, a free ad-supported mobile video service operated by AOL under Verizon ownership, publicly launched its content after beta testing. Content included programming from Comedy Central, HuffPost, and ESPN.

October 23, 2015: AOL Completes Acquisition of Millennial Media

On October 23, 2015, AOL completed the acquisition of Millennial Media.

2015: AOL acquired by Verizon Communications

In 2015, AOL was acquired by Verizon Communications for $4.4 billion and was merged with Yahoo! the following year after the latter was also acquired by Verizon.

2015: Brands Join Verizon Media

In 2015, brands such as Engadget, Autoblog, TechCrunch, and Built by Girls became part of Verizon Media (now Yahoo) along with the core of AOL.

April 20, 2016: AOL Acquires VR Studio RYOT

On April 20, 2016, AOL acquired RYOT, a virtual reality studio, with the aim of bringing immersive 360-degree video and VR content to HuffPost's global audience across desktop, mobile, and applications.

July 2016: Verizon to Purchase Yahoo!

In July 2016, Verizon Communications announced its intention to purchase the core internet business of Yahoo!.

February 24, 2017: AOL to shut down Lifestream

On February 24, 2017, AOL decided to shut down Lifestream, providing users one month's notice to save their uploaded photos and videos.

2017: Billions of Messages Sent Daily on AIM and AOL's Chat Services

In 2017, "billions of messages" were sent "daily" on AIM and AOL's other chat services.

2017: AOL Desktop Gold Released

In 2017, a new paid version called AOL Desktop Gold was released, available for $4.99 per month after a trial period, replacing the previous free version.

April 2018: Oath Inc. Sells Moviefone to MoviePass Parent

In April 2018, Oath Inc. sold Moviefone to MoviePass Parent Helios and Matheson Analytics.

September 10, 2018: Oath Consolidates Ad Platforms

On September 10, 2018, AOL's parent company Oath consolidated BrightRoll, One by AOL and Yahoo Gemini to 'simplify' adtech service by launching a single advertising proposition dubbed Oath Ad Platforms, now Yahoo! Ad Tech.

2018: AOL Toolbar Discontinued

In 2018, the AOL Toolbar, a browser toolbar Mozilla plug-in that provided quick access to AOL services, was discontinued after being available since 2007.

January 2019: Oath Inc. Rebrands as Verizon Media

In January 2019, Oath Inc., the company formed by the merger of AOL and Yahoo, rebranded itself as Verizon Media.

November 2020: Huffington Post Sold to BuzzFeed

In November 2020, the Huffington Post was sold to BuzzFeed in a stock deal.

December 15, 2020: AOL Chat System Shut Down

On December 15, 2020, AOL's original chat rooms, which had remained accessible through AOL Desktop Gold after the shutdown of AIM in 2017, were shut down.

May 3, 2021: Verizon to Sell Verizon Media to Apollo Global Management

On May 3, 2021, Verizon announced that it would sell 90 percent of its Verizon Media division to Apollo Global Management for $5 billion, marking the second independent incarnation of Yahoo! Inc.

May 2021: Verizon to sell Verizon Media (including AOL) to Apollo Global Management

In May 2021, Verizon announced it would sell Verizon Media (and thus AOL) to private equity firm Apollo Global Management for $5 billion. This marked another change in ownership for AOL.

October 2025: Apollo reaches deal to sell AOL to Bending Spoons

In October 2025, Apollo reached a $1.5 billion deal to sell AOL to the Italian conglomerate Bending Spoons.

October 2025: Bending Spoons to Acquire AOL

In October 2025, Bending Spoons acquired AOL in a deal valued at roughly $1.5 billion.

January 2026: Purchase of AOL by Bending Spoons Completed

In January 2026, the purchase of AOL by Bending Spoons was quietly completed, marking a new chapter in AOL's ownership.

January 2026: Bending Spoons Quietly Completes AOL Purchase

In January 2026, the purchase of AOL by Bending Spoons was quietly completed.

February 2026: Bending Spoons lays off AOL employees

In February 2026, Bending Spoons laid off more than 100 AOL employees, indicating restructuring following the acquisition.