When you are logged in to 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, download Yahoo! Messenger.

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 any time. Here's how:

• If you are logged in to Yahoo! Messenger, Yahoo! Chat, or Yahoo! Games, log out first.
• Go to the Yahoo! Profiles Page.
• You'll see a checkbox that says Check the box to hide my online status from other users.
• Checking the 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.