{
  "question": "Was today the anniversary of the first email?",
  "url": "https://was.today/the-anniversary-of-the-first-email",
  "verdict": "no",
  "headline": "NO",
  "answer": "No — Ray Tomlinson sent the first networked email in late 1971, probably around 2 October (some say late October), so nobody agrees what today is.",
  "details": [
    "Tomlinson's @-message to himself went out in October 1971",
    "He recalled the text as \"something like QWERTYUIOP\"",
    "Some sources mark 2 October 1971; he himself wasn't sure"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Wikipedia: October 26",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_26"
    },
    {
      "title": "Postmaster @ Yahoo & AOL",
      "url": "https://blog.postmaster.yahooinc.com/tagged/50yrsofemail"
    },
    {
      "title": "Postmaster @ Yahoo & AOL",
      "url": "https://blog.postmaster.yahooinc.com/post/666382194282053632/happy-birthday-email-a-love-letter"
    },
    {
      "title": "Azərtac",
      "url": "https://azertag.az/ru/xeber/ispolnilos_40_let_so_dnya_otpravki_pervogo_elektronnogo_pisma-757739#1"
    }
  ],
  "date": "2026-10-26",
  "place": null,
  "permalink": "https://was.today/the-anniversary-of-the-first-email/2026-10-26",
  "scope": "global",
  "volatile": false,
  "generatedAt": "2026-10-26T08:17:02.092Z"
}