Spam, Spim, and User Perceptions of E-Mail and Instant Messaging Usefulness

This article investigates the effect of unsolicited electronic messages, also known as spam and spim, on perceptions of e-mail and instant messaging usefulness. It is hypothesized that spam and spim should have a negative effect on electronic communication system usefulness, but the survey findings do not support this. Users seem to have coped with spam and spim through a combination of technical and non-technical solutions. The implications of these findings are discussed from the perspective of researchers, marketers, electronic communication service providers, and public policy.