This involves submitting someone else’s email address to various online services, often without their consent or knowledge. This action can range from subscribing the target to newsletters and promotional materials to creating accounts on websites. For example, an individual might enter a colleague’s email into a large number of marketing lists, resulting in an influx of unwanted messages.
The act’s popularity stems from its ease of execution and perceived harmlessness by some. Historically, this kind of digital practical joke has been seen as a relatively benign annoyance. However, the accumulation of unwanted email can lead to frustration, inconvenience, and potentially expose the target to phishing attempts or privacy risks. Furthermore, depending on the scale and intent, such actions can raise ethical and even legal concerns related to data protection and harassment.