Edward Kiledjian

Email's Origins and Control

Historically, long-distance communication was the domain of the powerful—governments and the Church—who used it to consolidate control. From the Persian Empire's horse posts to the Catholic Church's scrolls, the common population had no access to reliable long-distance mail until well into the 19th century.

Rise of Public Mail

Postcards and letters became accessible in the late 1800s due to education reforms and infrastructure investments. Mail turned personal and widespread, spawning new social behaviours such as chain letters, anonymous insults, and early versions of spam.

The Telegraph Changes Everything

The telegraph revolutionized communication by enabling real-time messaging across vast distances. It compressed perceptions of space and time, introduced information overload, and laid the groundwork for a more anxious, always-on society.

Email's Dominance and Downside

By 2007, email had replaced telegrams and physical letters, with 35 trillion messages sent annually. It is fast, costless, and ubiquitous—but its efficiency comes at the cost of mental well-being, constant interruptions, and perpetual availability.

Addiction and Brain Impact

Email checking triggers dopamine responses, creating compulsive behaviour. Overuse shifts brain function from memory retention to repetitive action, lowering cognitive performance and empathy, which is especially dangerous for adolescents in developmental phases.

Disruption to Daily Life

Email undermines our sense of accomplishment, causes sleep deprivation, and affects interpersonal relationships. Even family time is compromised as people multi-task digital communication during intimate moments.

Taking Back Control

To mitigate email's negative effects:

• Check email at fixed times during work hours.
• Avoid email upon waking or before sleep.
• Use concise, subject-driven writing.
• Promote face-to-face or phone communication for complex topics.
• Maintain physical writing tools and reorganize your workspace so it does not revolve solely around screens.

Final Thought

Email is transformative but powerful. Without mindful boundaries, it shifts from a tool to a tyrant.