Google messages make it easier to unsubscribe from automated text messages

Companies, charities, political campaigns and other organizations send millions of automated text messages every day for marketing, promotional or information causes, and many of these texts end up in the inboxes of unwilling recipients. Most organizations allow users to opt out of these text messages by responding with ‘stop’, but many users may not be aware of this, especially if the automated message does not explicitly mention it. Google messages Rolls out a new feature that helps inform users that they can opt out of automated text messages.

While using the Google Messages app here during the day, I discovered some new text at the bottom of the screen that asked me if I would “sign up for subscription to stop receiving messages.” Tapping “Ending Subscription” launched a sheet that asked why I wanted to quit the subscription. The sheet presented five options: “Not registered”, “For many messages”, “no longer interested”, “spam” or “else.” Choosing the “Spam” option got a cross box to appear with the additional option to report the sender when you sign up for a subscription, while selecting the “Other” option got a text box to appear where I could specify exactly why I was contaminated. This feature replaced the existing Block and report spam Button at the bottom of the chats for me, although the latter was still available in the chat menu.

After sending the “Stop” command, a “unsubscribe request” message “appeared during the message. Then a” Start “button appeared in the bottom right to press to record automated texts from the sender.

I discovered the cancellation option at the bottom of automated text messages sent from short codes, ie 5- or 6-digit phone numbers commonly used by companies for high volume messages. When we first revealed this feature in an APK drift, we reported that it would do too appear in RC’s business messages (RBM). I do not get involved with many companies using RBM, so I cannot personally confirm that the subscription option is available for RCS Chatter. However, Google has confirmed That this feature is available to RBM and that it gradually rolls out to users registered in the Beta program for Google messages. The feature is available for RBM messages in the United States, Brazil, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom. It is also available for A2P (application-to-person) SMS or MMS messages in the United States from short codes and alphanumic senders.

Although the feature rolls out into the Google Messages app, Google says Backend support for unsubscribing and rewriting is not available for RBM, and therefore the feature does not yet work with RCS Chatter. Google makes the feature and documentation available to Beta users today so that companies can prepare for full release in a future update. When businesses add support, they are expected to comply with the user’s request to opt out, but if they cannot do so in the message thread, they must send a link to where the user can manage the subscription. “Important” messages such as one-time passwords and notifications of specific services the user has chosen is still allowed, but all “non-essential” messages are prohibited from being sent after the user has completed a subscription.

Since this feature gradually rolls out, you may not be able to see it yet in the Google Messages app. If you see it, let us know in the comments below! Remember that if using an option SMS -app for AndroidDo not see this option, as it is built into the Google app.