Quick Answer
Clue: “Internet company that popularized chat rooms”
Answer: AOL
Length: 3 letters
Position: 7-Across
Snippet-friendly sentence: The New York Times crossword clue “Internet company that popularized chat rooms” is answered with AOL.
Why “AOL” Is the Right NYT Answer
- AOL (America Online) became famous in the 1990s for its dial‑up service and especially for its chat rooms, which introduced many everyday users to online socializing.
- The clue points to that historical role by describing the company as one that “popularized chat rooms,” making AOL the natural fit.
The answer is short, grid-friendly, and matches the clue’s definite description there are other chat platforms, but AOL is the classic crossword choice for this wording.
What “AOL” Means in Plain English
- In plain English, AOL is an abbreviation for America Online, an early major internet service provider and online portal. It offered email, instant messaging, and chat rooms bundled with its access software.
- For crossword purposes, you only need to know that AOL is an internet company strongly associated with early chat rooms and “You’ve got mail”–era online culture.
Crossword-Specific Help: Pattern, Crossings, and Variants
- In the grid, AOL fills a three-square slot as A–O–L, matching a pattern like _ _ _ for 7-Across. Once you have crossings that give you A as the first letter and maybe L as the last, AOL becomes the obvious solution for this clue.
- Because AOL is short and vowel-heavy, it appears often in crosswords. You may see it under clues like “Old internet giant,” “Online pioneer,” or “Company behind ‘You’ve got mail’ notices.”
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When a clue references early internet history dial‑up, “You’ve got mail,” or early chat rooms think of AOL first, especially for a three-letter slot.
- Always match the grid length and clue focus: if the emphasis is on an internet company or ISP from the 1990s, AOL is usually a top candidate.
Recognizing a stable of tech-y repeaters like AOL, ISP, URL, and APP can speed up many modern NYT grids.
