ABC saying the "couldn't" be a prank.
I read the IMs...I got a feeling someone was playing Foley...I could imagine "snickers" in the background.
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Amid_questions_ABC_says_messages_couldnt_1005.html
ditto - anyone who knows teenagers should have been able to see that possibility. It's not as if Foley forced the communications to continue. IMs are used for "chat" not one-way messages.
bttt