Question: Is Using BCc: Polite?

Did you know if a Sender puts addresses in the BCc: field of an email, there is no way for you to know that? How would you feel if you found out that other unknown contacts are recipients of an email that visually only appears to be addressed to you?

Not good, right? I don’t blame you.

For the most part, we assume that our email communications are between us and those whose email addresses we can see. Sadly, hiding email addresses in the BCc: field for the wrong reasons is more common than many may surmise.

Time and Place for Everything

Here is a good analogy. BCc: is akin to having a phone conversation on speakerphone without informing the other side.

What are the Email Etiquette considerations for hiding recipients’ names from others getting the same email? The only good reason is to protect their privacy.

For example, if the Sender is trying to protect the privacy of their contacts by not exposing their addresses to those they do not know. Particularly when sending to a group of contacts in a mass email.

But, if the Sender is copying others on a conversation for other reasons via the BCc, that is a questionable approach without the recipient’s knowledge.

Motive Matters

BCc’ing for the wrong reasons can backfire if you are e-tattling or copying others not related to the conversation to share what is being exchanged purely to gossip. Shame on you!

Most assume that emails are intended for our eyes only. To reply, then BCc: others unrelated to the conversation speak to your character. To e-tattle, CYA, or include other uninvolved parties will only serve to reflect negatively on you.

If your use of BCc: is exposed at any point — credibility is lost.

However, if the group of contacts that were BCc’d do not know each other, putting their email addresses in the BCc: field to protect their privacy is the proper thing to do. When contacts all know each other and don’t mind exposing their email addresses, the question becomes, what was the Sender’s motive in BCc’ing folks on a correspondence?

Motive is key… Think hard and long as to why you want to BCc: uninvolved recipients. Your reputation is at stake.