Each area is devoted to a particular discussion topic eg pottery, particle physics etc.
Users post messages via electronic mail.
Users can also choose to start a new discussion. The first to take advantage of this instant and cheap form of communication were scientists. Instant communication gradually became appealing to non-scientists and Usenet today is thriving. Today discussion areas, also known as newsgroups, number in the tens of thousands. Newsgroup types are recognisable by their names.