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Related Experiment Videos

Enter your e-mail address: how German Internet users manage their e-mail addresses.

Sonja Utz1

  • 1Department of Psychology, Chemnitz University of Technology, Chemnitz, Germany. s.utz@fsw.vu.nl

Cyberpsychology & Behavior : the Impact of the Internet, Multimedia and Virtual Reality on Behavior and Society
|May 14, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Many individuals manage multiple email addresses, often choosing anonymous options for privacy and spam concerns. This study explores the deliberate use of email addresses for different purposes among German internet users.

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Area of Science:

  • Internet Behavior
  • Digital Identity Management

Background:

  • Email is a primary internet activity, with many users maintaining multiple addresses.
  • Email addresses differ in their level of personal identification (e.g., name, gender).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how individuals manage multiple email addresses and their purposeful usage.
  • To determine if the identifying information in an email address predicts its specific use.
  • To explore factors beyond rational choice influencing email address selection.

Main Methods:

  • An online survey was conducted among German internet users.
  • Data collected focused on email address management, usage patterns, and perceived privacy concerns.

Main Results:

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  • Having multiple email addresses is common, with free webmail (freemail) being highly popular.
  • Users opt for more anonymous email addresses when anticipating spam or prioritizing privacy.
  • Significant interindividual differences exist in how people manage their email addresses.

Conclusions:

  • Email address management is influenced by a combination of intended purpose, privacy concerns, and individual differences.
  • The choice of email address often reflects a balance between utility, anonymity, and personal data protection strategies.