Judgement Day. Essay, Is E-mail Dead?

E-mail is short for electronic mail and is the transmission of messages over communication networks. E-mail is considered fast, reliable and flexible. Companies make extensive use of email because of the latter factor. E-mails can be sent to more than one user at the same time. This is called broadcasting. However my argument is focusing on whether or not E-mail is dead. In regards to companies I disagree and think it is not dead to companies. However some theorists are suggesting that Instant Messaging is more reliable in the work place as it reaches people who are available to communicate, instantly. In Doug Beizer’s article Is Email Dead? Beizer states, “The [IM] system is a convenient way to initiate dialogue because it includes information about who is available at their desk and offers the benefits of real-time communication.” (1997) With E-mail, communication cannot happen instantly as you could be waiting over a day for a reply. So it is questionable whether or not E-mail will soon become dead in companies. When it comes to socialising I agree and believe E-mail has been dead for a number of years. Myspace, MSN and Facebook have replaced the E-mail phenomenon. These social networks allow Internet users to socialise with their friends and family in a quick and entertaining way as you can view recent photos and remain up to date without the inconvenience of numerous attachments. According to comScore, Facebook are the number one photo sharing application on the web.

It is important to understand the history of e-mail and how it originated when questioning is e-mail dead? E-mail was a crucial tool in creating in the Internet. Once the Internet had accelerated, social networks among many other sites were created.

World Topix article on the History of E-mail states “Email is much older than the Internet. It was never invented; it evolved from very simple beginnings. Early email was just a small advance on what we know these days as a file directory.” The first ever e-mail was created through APRANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network). APRANET was created originally for military and education centres to communicate. In 1971 Ray Tomlinson sent the world’s first electronic message. By 1972 Tomlinson made the modern day format of the e-mail address. Through time, e-mail has now become more advanced and user friendly. E-mail has also worked out cheaper than other forms of communication such as the telephone. Richard T. Griffiths states “as long as the costs of keeping computer links open were carried by the computing centre, it is a much cheaper medium than the telephone.” (2002)When comparing e-mail to social networking trends such as Myspace and MSN, I believe that the social networks outweigh e-mail. After interviewing a group of teenage Internet users, Stefanie Olsen from CNET News agrees and states “It may be that social networks are the most potent new rival to e-mail, one of the Internet's oldest forms of communication.” (2007)

Burdens which have led to the demise of e-mail are issues such as spam which is the equivalent of junk mail or a prank phone call. Spam can simply be defined as all unsolicited electronic mail sent out in bulk to individuals/organisations that have not consented to receive it. Spam creates a number of issues for e-mail users as legitimate e-mails can be lost amongst all the unwanted spam. Spam is a major factor to why e-mail is considered dead to most people and why social networks are the preferred form of communicating between friends and family. Admittedly e-mail has one main use in most young people’s lives. This is to purely communicate on a professional level with tutors or work colleagues. Stefanie Olsen states “e-mail has hung on to its utility in office environments and at home, even if it's given up some ground to new challengers.” (2007) E-mail is a nuisance when jokes and chain letters are forwarded in mass groups. With social networks such as blogging and Myspace you can choose whether or not you want to read the material on your page and can choose to ignore it as it will be replaced by other member’s articles, bulletins or comments. David Tebbutt states that “Rebirth of email depends on changing social attitudes” and that blogs are “more of a foghorn for the individual who has information to share, but it can lead into discussions through direct comments and trackback links to other blogs where the conversation has been taken up. It's better than emails because the reader is in control of what they look at, and when.” (2006)

Not everybody agrees that e-mail is dead and that social networks are taking over; however the argument that e-mail is not dead is quite weak. Matt Hamblen of Computerworld argues that e-mail is “hardly” dead. The only line of argument Hamblen has is that of the student. Hamblen interviewed three University students who claim they use the Internet and e-mail everyday for studying purposes. However, Hamblen does point out that the students do tend to use their mobile phones rather than IM (instant messaging) and e-mailing. Hamblen states “The messaging habits of those three college students might contrast with younger Internet users, but they also support the premise that e-mail is not dead at all.” (2007) Yes, University students use e-mail, but this is because they have to. Due to privacy issues and the age demographic, it is highly likely that a student’s tutor would have Myspace or Facebook or for a tutor to give a student their personal e-mail address so they could have a discussion over MSN. E-mail is dead to young people and is an activity that is rapidly fading out, being replaced by exciting new gossip social networks like Myspace. Stefanie Olsen backs this argument up by stating that young people are“the first and early adopters of new trends. Things they are doing are what everyone will be doing in five years. To hear the teen panelists tell it, that means e-mail will be strictly the domain of business dealings.” (2007)

Age demographic is a major factor in determining who uses social networks such as Myspace, Facebook and MSN to keep in contact with family and friends as well as to meet new people. With E-mail you cannot meet new people, it is a way to communicate purely for business or in the case of the older demographic, to communicate with relatives and friends. The majority of youth starting from age thirteen to twenty five either have a Myspace or Facebook account. It can safely be said that the majority of youth, private message through these social networks, rather than use their e-mail only account. With the consistent creation of new technologies, e-mail will continue to demise and be shadowed by social networks. Social networks are able to adapt easier to new trends and are more convenient as they are not swamped with spam. Private messages sent via Myspace/Facebook are easier to maintain and keep up to date compared to e-mail. E-mail is definitely dead when it comes to this day and age and the social networks that accompany it.

References

Beizer, Doug (1997), Is Email Dead? http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/117/next-tech-email-is-dead.html (accessed 15 May 2008)
Kolberg, Vanessa (2004), History of E-mail http://blogs.setonhill.edu/VanessaKolberg/004403.html (accessed 15 May 2008)
Griffiths, Richard T. History of Electronic Mail http://www.let.leidenuniv.nl/history/ivh/chap3.htm (accessed 17 May 2008)
http://www.worldtopix.com/email_history.html (accessed 15 May 2008) no author or date.
Olsen, Stefanie (2007), Kids say email, is like, soooo dead http://news.cnet.com/Kids-say-e-mail-is,-like,-soooo-dead/2009-1032_3-6197242.html (accessed 13 May 2008)
Tebbutt, David (2006). Rebirth of email depends on changing social attitudes. Information World Review, (224), 13. Retrieved May 29, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1041499351). http://proquest.umi.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/pqdweb?index=5&did=1041499351&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1210260834&clientId=13713 Hamblen, Matt (2007), Is E-mail Dead? Hardly http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/11/21/Is-e-mail-dead_1.html
http://www.comscore.com/