We’re All Living in a Giant Email Graveyard
Where email goes to die
We’re all living in a giant email graveyard and don’t know it.
I recently hopped on a virtual elevator ride to the subbasement of my past, dug through the dusty, spider-webbed coffers of the internet, and rooted around in my old Hotmail and Yahoo email accounts.
Just to put it in perspective:
- I didn’t get an email address until college (I’m old)
- My school email address was, for some time, Kokoloco@murraystate.edu. I’ll let that sink right in.
During my time in the basement, I ran across some cool stuff I’d forgotten about a long time ago — oh, yeah, I did do those podcast interviews about my novel, a whole lot of spam, and some old unpublished articles I’ll probably refresh and send out into the cosmos.
Mostly, though, it felt like hanging out in a graveyard full of email ghosts.
What Is an Email Graveyard?
Email graveyards are a sad and forgotten place.
They are full of dead emails, burnt out and left to smolder in the sun. They are current and forgotten email accounts, from people who no longer work at the job, from businesses that have gone defunct, and from people who have passed away since email first started.
Email graveyards are a reminder of the fleeting nature of life and how easily we can be forgotten. But they also offer a glimpse into the past, a reminder of how quickly things can change.
In short, an email graveyard is a repository for all the dead or forgotten email accounts that are no longer in use.
How We Ended Up In a Cyber Graveyard
Ironically, we ended up in the graveyard because of efficiency.
These days, it’s not uncommon to have multiple email accounts. You might have a personal account, a work account, and perhaps even a “junk” account for online shopping or other activities.
It’s easy to take email for granted.
After all, it’s been around for decades and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. But have you ever stopped to think about how email became so ubiquitous?
Part of the reason is that we value efficiency.
We want to be able to stay connected with our loved ones, our colleagues, and our clients without having to go through the hassle of meeting in person or talking on the phone.
Email allows us to do just that. And best of all, it’s free. But this convenience comes at a price.
Because email accounts are so easy to create and delete, we often end up discarding them when we no longer need them. This can lead to a buildup of old, unused email accounts — what some people refer to as a “cyber graveyard.”
In most cases, when you stop using those old accounts, they simply become inactive.
The email provider may eventually delete them if they remain inactive for an extended period of time, but in many cases, they will remain on the server indefinitely.
A cyber haunting.
The Hidden Dangers of Email Graveyards
These dormant accounts can be full of sensitive information, making them a prime target for hackers. Even if an account isn’t hacked, it can still become clogged with cyber spam.
Email graveyards can even be hijacked by the dark web.
It turns out that there’s a whole underground market for inactive accounts. These so-called “zombie accounts” can be bought and sold for a variety of purposes, from spamming to identity theft.
In some cases, hackers will even break into inactive accounts in order to use them as launching pads for attacks on other parts of the internet.
As a result, it’s important to be careful about what you do with your old email accounts. If you’re not using it anymore, it’s best to delete it or at least make sure it’s properly secured.
Otherwise, you could end up unintentionally contributing to the thriving black market for zombie accounts.
The Secret Blessings of Email Graveyards
Email graveyards are also a fascinating place.
Think of them as the modern equivalent of a time capsule. One of the most surprising things about email graveyards is how much they can reveal about our past relationships. Love letters that were never sent, old contracts, discarded draft complaint emails for bad customer service.
They can offer a treasure trove of information for anyone interested in the past.
Email graveyards can also hold important business deals that were never finalized. Old contracts and proposals can be found, giving insight into what could have been.
Sometimes, these old email accounts can help track down old friends and colleagues. It’s not just a pile of junk mail; it’s a snapshot of our digital history.
How Do We Get Out of the Graveyard?
Let’s face it: we all have that one email account that we never use anymore, but for some reason, we can’t seem to let go of it.
Maybe it’s the account that you used in college or the one that you first set up when you got your first job. Whatever the reason, it’s time to let go. Old email accounts can be a security risk, and they’re just taking up space in your digital drawers.
In addition, keeping your current email account up to date is important.
Make sure to delete any old messages that you don’t need, and update your contact information regularly (and your passwords). You should also consider flushing any sensitive data that you don’t want to potentially be made public.
You know those saucy pictures you sent that one night? Yeah, better get rid of those before you run for office.
While it may seem strange, you might even want to add email account management to funeral arrangements. It might be an excellent way to ensure that your loved ones can access your important messages after you’re gone.
Plus, they can delete accounts you no longer need.
By following these simple tips, you can keep your inbox clean, organized, and free from the email graveyard.
Final Thoughts
It’s not only email either. All old digital accounts end up in a virtual casket buried deep in the interwebs.
I’m talking about ancient AOL accounts, Yahoo Chatrooms, and MySpace pages. The lucky ones get purged from existence, cyber cremated into oblivion.
The rest, I suppose, are still out there. Somewhere. Waiting.
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