Spam facts for kids

Spam is a word that can mean a few different things, but it often refers to unwanted messages or a type of canned meat. It's a term you might hear a lot online!

• Spam (food) is a popular brand of canned cooked pork. It's made by the Hormel Foods Corporation and has been around since 1937. People around the world eat it in many different ways, from sandwiches to fried dishes.

• Spamming generally means sending out lots of messages that people don't want or didn't ask for. This can happen in many places online.
  • Email spam is when you get unwanted emails, often trying to sell you something or trick you. These are sometimes called "junk mail."
  • Messaging spam happens when people send unwanted messages through instant messaging apps, text messages (SMS), or even private messages on websites.

What is Spam in Entertainment?

The word "spam" also shows up in fun ways, especially in games and comedy.

Spam in Gaming

In video games, spamming means doing the same action over and over again very quickly. For example, a player might "spam" a certain attack button to use the same move repeatedly. It's often done to try and win quickly or to annoy other players.

Spam in Comedy and Music

• The famous British comedy group Monty Python had a very funny sketch called "Spam." In this sketch, almost every item on a restaurant menu included Spam, and characters kept repeating the word "Spam" over and over. This sketch is actually why the word "spam" became popular for unwanted electronic messages!
• There are also songs named "Spam." For example, the band Save Ferris released a song called "Spam" in 1997. "Weird Al" Yankovic, known for his funny parody songs, also has a song called "Spam" on one of his albums.

The Spam Museum

Did you know there's a whole museum dedicated to the canned meat? The Spam Museum is located in Austin, Minnesota, in the United States. It's a place where you can learn all about the history of Spam, see old advertisements, and even play some fun games related to the food. It's a quirky and interesting place to visit!

Other Meanings of Spam

The word "SPAM" can also be used in more scientific or technical ways, though these are less common in everyday talk.

Smooth-Particle Applied Mechanics

In science, SPAM stands for Smooth-Particle Applied Mechanics. This is a way that scientists and engineers use computers to study how solid materials break or react when they are hit very hard, like in a crash. It helps them understand impacts and design stronger materials.

SPAM Bacteria

In biology, SPAM is also the name for a group of bacteria that scientists have discovered. These bacteria are part of what are called "candidate phyla," which means they are a new group of bacteria that scientists are still learning about. They are often found in different environments, but we don't know much about what they do yet.