Starting from an analysis of spam phenomena and their characteristics, Unsolicited Message—An invasive experience aims to inform which characteristics spam has and how we should be careful with this type of schemes. Spam is a phenomenon that can be defined as a collection of irrelevant information or unsolicited messages sent over the internet. These phenomena are usually sent to a large number of users, using advertising strategies, among others, with the aim of stealing money from users, removing their personal information for later use or even spreading viruses on their technological devices.
Unsolicited Messages is a platform that promotes discovery through a cyclic navigation of the various types of spam (blackmails, excessive content, bulk messages, malicious links, nigerian scams and clickbait). Within each type of spam, the user is faced with real narratives, used by spammers, and interacts with them in order to realize that he must be skeptical about this type of messages. After interacting with the types of spam, the user receives informations of what each type of spam can be and its dangers to the user.
The Unsolicited Messages project is based on the principles of agglomeration, excessive information and persuasion adopted by spammers. Thus, the project encourages users to ponder their actions when interacting with this type of unsolicited messages, and reflect on how easy it can be to be involved in these very specific schemes and, at the same time, how difficult it is to protect ourselves from it.
Link to project.