Spam, also known as junk mail or unsolicited messages, refers to communications that are sent in bulk or individually, typically from unknown senders. In 99% of cases, these messages contain advertisements for products or services that, rather than benefiting the user, ultimately become an annoyance.

Although spam can be sent through various channels, the most common are email, forums, blogs, and social media.

Where does the word "Spam" come from?

The term spam has an interesting origin. In 1937, the American company Hormel Foods launched a canned meat product called Hormel's Spiced Ham. This product, later simply known as Spam (a contraction of "Spiced Ham"), became popular, especially during World War II, when it was consumed by Soviet and British soldiers.

By 1957, Spam began to be sold in cans designed to be opened without the need for a can opener, further increasing its popularity among consumers.

However, the term took on a different meaning thanks to the British comedy group Monty Python. In one of their iconic sketches, they parodied Spam by repeatedly and absurdly shouting the word in various advertisements.

This idea of something repetitive and annoying eventually became associated with unsolicited emails, forums, and other digital media, leading to the modern usage of the word spam to refer to junk mail.