In this paper, I will discuss how millennials are shifting email usage from its inception. I will show that email usage in its origin included socialization, but as technology advances, so do means of communication. After reviewing multiple studies about email and internet usage, I have concluded that email as a social tool is becoming less prominent than other forms of electronic communication. I hypothesize that millennials are shifting toward other forms of electronic communication, such as social media or text messaging, instead of email as a social tool. Through a study of millennial age students’ inboxes, I collected data to find out how they are using email as a communication tool. In order to find out how they are using email, students will sort their email messages into categories, as well as answer questions pertaining to their personal background and their electronic communication. I will then tabulate the social function of student email. Through this procedure, I hope to give insight into the use of email by millennials. In conclusion, this study will examine the email content of millennials in order to better understand how they are communicating electronically.
