When was the term spam mail first used

The term "spam" to refer to unwanted or unsolicited electronic messages, such as email or text messages, is believed to have originated in the early 1990s. However, the term "spam mail" specifically to refer to unwanted email messages is thought to have emerged in the late 1990s.

The term "spam" is derived from a Monty Python's Flying Circus sketch from 1978, in which a group of Vikings sing a song with the refrain "Spam, spam, spam, spam..." The sketch is a parody of the repetitive nature of advertising and propaganda.

In the early 1990s, the term "spam" began to be used in online communities to refer to unwanted or repetitive messages, often in the form of Usenet posts or email messages. The term gained popularity in the late 1990s, as email became more widespread and spam messages became a common problem.

The term "spam mail" specifically to refer to unwanted email messages is thought to have emerged around 1998-1999, as email spam became a major problem. The term was popularized by the anti-spam organization SpamAssassin, which was founded in 1998 and used the term to describe unwanted email messages.

Since then, the term "spam" has become widely used to refer to any unwanted or unsolicited electronic message, including email, text messages, and social media posts.