The use of physical mail has declined drastically with the rise of digital communication methods. Letters were once the primary means of long-distance communication, but it took over a decade after the creation of the first computer for digital messaging networks to be developed. While email did not exist 60 years ago, it is now widely used and has replaced mail for many purposes. As social media, texting, and email allow instant contact, traditional mail can no longer compete and provides no additional benefit over digital alternatives. This has led to major financial losses for postal services as the volume of physical mail drops significantly.

1. The Decline of Mail
By Ryan Fung
Source: Éole Wind https://www.flickr.com/photos/eole/

2. For thousands of years, the main
method of long-distance
communication was sending letters
Source: Denise Cortez https://www.flickr.com/photos/warmnfuzzy/

3. Couriers would travel for days, sometimes
even months in order to ensure that the
letters reached their intended recipients
Source: Elvert Barnes https://www.flickr.com/photos/perspective/

4. When the computer was first invented,
no one knew of the impact it would
have on the mail industry
Source: Jenn Durfey https://www.flickr.com/photos/dottiemae/

5. It took 11 years after the creation of the first
commercial computer for the first message
service to be developed, which was called the
AUTODIN network
Source: Dan Budiac https://www.flickr.com/photos/dansays/

6. AUTODIN was first operational in 1962, and
was able to handle 30 million messages a
month, while providing the service to 1350
terminals
Source: Hans Põldoja https://www.flickr.com/photos/hanspoldoja/

7. This service really got people thinking
about the possibility of the computer
as a messaging device
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8. People started trying to develop a way
to replace traditional mail services with
a more convenient method
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9. After experimenting with many different mail
systems, the widely used Webmail system,
used by services such as gmail, was developed
in 1995
Source: U.S. Army RDECOM https://www.flickr.com/photos/rdecom/

10. The webmail service allows users to
send and receive email from anywhere
using a web browser
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11. Even though email didn’t exist 60 years
ago, and the current version of email has
only existed for 20 years, it has quickly
become a huge part of our day-to-day lives
Source: Will Lion https://www.flickr.com/photos/will-lion/

12. During the rise of email systems, the amount of
physical mail sent has drastically decreased
Source: Joey Rozier https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrjoro/

13. In the most recent quarter, Canada
Post reported a loss of $27 million
Source: harry choi https://www.flickr.com/photos/harrychoi/

14. This loss was caused by a 79 million
piece drop in Transaction Mail
Source: j-No https://www.flickr.com/photos/j-no/

15. However, this decline is not solely
caused by the invention of email
Source: Lucas Stanley https://www.flickr.com/photos/lucasstanley/

16. With the creation of texting and social media,
contacting people is now easier than ever
Source: Ian Lamont https://www.flickr.com/photos/ilamont/

17. Traditional mail can no longer offer
anything that a combination of social
media, texting, and email can’t offer faster
Source: José María Pérez Nuñez https://www.flickr.com/photos/jmpznz/

18. Want to send a document to
someone? Attach it in an email
Source: Chris Dlugosz https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisdlugosz/

19. Want to send your friends and family
pictures of your vacation? Instagram it
Source: Kim Seng https://www.flickr.com/photos/captainkimo/

20. Want to organize something with your
friends? Send them a text
Source: Michael Hanscom https://www.flickr.com/photos/djwudi/

21. As more convenient methods of
communication continue to be created,
eventually the need for physical mail will
no longer exist
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22. What was once an extremely important
method of communication has effectively
been replaced by modern technology
Source: Greg Jordan https://www.flickr.com/photos/gregoryjordan/