Television can be a hotbed of creativity (or mediocrity, depending on who you ask). But it's not just characters and storylines writers are coming up with. In fact, some TV shows have had a lasting impact on our everyday language, including the term "spam" when referring to unwanted junk email.
You have received unwanted messages in your email inbox. Whether at work, or at home, dozens, if not hundreds have arrived this week alone. This flood of unsolicited emails can be frustrating and time-consuming to deal with. But have you ever wondered why we call these annoying messages "spam"?
Back in the early days of the internet, a popular British television show called Monty Python's Flying Circus aired a sketch featuring a group of Vikings singing a song that repeatedly said "Spam, spam, spam, spam..." The sketch was a humorous take on the overabundance of canned meat products in a restaurant, but it inadvertently gave rise to the term "spam" being used to describe unwanted email.
Technology is one field where phrasal verbs and new nouns are very common. The Everyday Grammar team presents a history of phrasal verbs in tech slang, including how terms like "spam" have become ingrained in our online vocabulary.
The term "spam" quickly caught on in the early days of the internet, as users began to receive more and more unsolicited emails advertising everything from weight loss pills to get-rich-quick schemes. As the problem grew, so did the need for a catchy term to describe these nuisance messages.
How Monty Python and a 90s comic helped name some of the tech slang we use today. The term "spam" eventually stuck, and today it is widely recognized as the go-to word for describing unwanted junk email. But spam is just one type of online scam that computer users need to be aware of.
People really are out to get you online. Here's what to know about phishing, smishing, BEC, and other scams to watch out for. In addition to spam, there are other types of online scams such as phishing, where cybercriminals attempt to trick you into giving away personal information like passwords or financial details.
As internet users become more savvy about the dangers of online scams, the term "spam" has taken on a new meaning beyond just unwanted emails. It now serves as a reminder to stay vigilant and protect yourself against various forms of online fraud.
The impact of a popular television show on internet slang, with the term "spam" becoming synonymous with unwanted junk email. Whether you're at work or at home, it's important to be aware of the various online scams out there and take steps to protect yourself from falling victim to cybercriminals.
