When you are logged into Yahoo! Messenger, Yahoo! Chat or Yahoo! Games, other Yahoo! users will see the smiley face next to your name indicating that you are online. Other users can then contact you by sending an instant message.

If you'd like to send instant messages and meet other Yahoo! members, get Yahoo! Messenger here.

If you don't want other people to know when you are online on Yahoo! Messenger, Yahoo! Chat or Yahoo! Games, you can disable the online status feature at anytime. Here's how:

• If you are logged into Yahoo! Messenger, Yahoo! Chat or Yahoo! Games, you need to log out.
• Go to the Edit Profiles Page
• Click on the check box that says \"Hide my online status from other users.\"
• Checking this box will hide your online status. If you leave the box unchecked, other people will know when you're online.
• Make sure to click on the \"Finished Editing\" button when you're done.
• Log back into Yahoo! Messenger, Yahoo! Chat or Yahoo! Games to see your revised online status.