A recent observation by social media user darthur highlights a growing sentiment among digital consumers regarding the escalating volume of online communications. The user questioned, > "Is it just me or has email spam, discord, Substack…, ads posed as company updates, and new product releases gotten out of control recently?" This reflects a broader trend of increased digital outreach from businesses and content creators.
The perception of a surge in digital messages is supported by industry data, with global daily email volume projected to reach an astounding 392.5 billion by 2026, up from 333 billion in 2022. Companies have significantly ramped up their promotional efforts, with a one-third increase in promotional emails sent in 2023 alone. This expansion extends beyond traditional email to diverse platforms like Discord and Substack, as noted by darthur, who remarked, > "It used to just be one company representing hundreds that was sending these emails. Now everyone seems to be doing it."
In response to this crowded digital landscape, businesses are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence and hyper-personalization to tailor their messages, aiming to cut through the noise. However, this strategy can inadvertently contribute to the overall volume, leading to what some experts identify as "employee information overload." Surveys indicate that solving this overload is a top objective for corporate communicators in 2025, as employees report being "bombarded with numerous messages across different channels."
The relentless flow of digital communication poses a challenge for both senders and recipients. While companies strive for engagement, the sheer volume can lead to disengagement and missed important updates. Efforts to enhance trust and deliverability, such as the adoption of Rich Communication Services (RCS) and stricter email authentication standards by providers like Gmail and Yahoo, are emerging as critical countermeasures against spam and for ensuring legitimate messages reach their intended audience.