The New York Times has an article discussing the use of IM within the home. Seems that wired familes with multiple computers in the household are now using IM as a means of communication in the house, and, according to the article, often quite effectively. As teachers who use technology in the classroom, I would guess that many of us would agree with the following observation:

"Conversation between parents and teenagers could be highly emotional and not necessarily productive," said Elisheva F. Gross, a psychology researcher at the Children's Digital Media Center at the University of California at Los Angeles. When young people are online, however, "it's their turf," she said. "It may be a way for parents to communicate in a language and in a space that their children are more comfortable with."

Link courtesy of Slashdot.