Most people find spam emails more intrusive and irritating than junk mail landing on their doormat, according to Canadian research.

A study by the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia found that most people are less irritated by unsolicited junk mail than by spam.

"Spam is definitely regarded as more annoying, irritating and intrusive than postal direct mail," said Mariko Morimoto, who conducted the research.

The focus group study found that people find spam more intrusive than direct mail because it makes it harder to get to legitimate and wanted messages. Discarding traditional junk mail, on the other hand, is not perceived as time consuming. Paper junk mail is also easier to prevent, for instance by placing a 'No Flyers' notice on the letterbox.

The vast majority of respondents also resent spam because there is so much of it and because spam is "more apt to be of an unwanted sexual nature".

Links

• Which is more annoying, spam or direct mail? (sciencedaily.com)