A method, apparatus, and system are directed towards managing unsolicited
email messages, and the like, in part, by providing segmentation of an
email inbox. In one embodiment, the email inbox is segmented into
segments associated with a message from a trusted, trusted email address,
an untrusted email address, and a segment for a bulk email message, such
as spam, and the like. A determination that the message is from a trusted
email address may be made based, in part, on whether the email address is
associated with one's address book, a degree of separation that may be
determined based on an association with another's address book, whether
the email address was a sent email address, and the like. By segmenting
the email inbox, the invention minimizes a risk associated with
incorrectly discarding a message from a desired, but untrusted source.