What is an instant message: An instant message is a private communication between two people online using a chat client. If I am in a chat room and type something, any in the chat room can read the message. This means if there are a hundred people in the room ninety-eight other people may read the message. By using an instant message only the person I sent the message to will be able to read that message. It is a form of private, one on one chatting, which allows a sexual predator access to potential victims.