Spam and unsolicited business messages remain a major problem in Google Messages. In early April, Google was spotted testing a new Unsubscribe button to help stop automated text spam. Back then, the option was in beta testing and only available to users in selected countries, with support for RCS Business Messages missing. That’s changing now, with Google rolling out the new Unsubscribe button in Google Messages to all.
It’ll soon speak in coordinates
A new support page from Google details how the Unsubscribe button will work in Google Messages (via 9to5Google). When the button is tapped, a “STOP” message is sent from your number to the sender. This should stop non-essential and marketing messages from that number. However, essential or requested messages from the business will still land in your Google Messages inbox.
If a business cannot comply with your unsubscribe request, it will redirect you to your account settings to manage your notification preferences. To stop receiving all messages from a business, you need to use the Block & report spam option.
You can access the Unsubscribe button by tapping the 3-dot overflow menu button located in the top-right corner of the conversation window. Alternatively, it will appear at the bottom of the chat.
Google notes that the Unsubscribe button in Google Messages is available in the following countries and texts:
When unsubscribing from texts from a business, you will get a pop-up asking for the reason. Google’s support page says it will share this data as aggregate statistics with the carrier and sender. In case you select Spam, you can report the sender to the carrier.
Despite Google’s continuous efforts, spam messages remain a significant problem. Google needs to crack down harder on businesses misusing RCS to send spam and unwanted messages. Or it needs to bolster Google Messages’ spam filtering to automatically block unsolicited texts from reaching your inbox. This will help the overall ecosystem and ensure wider adoption of RCS messaging.
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Nobody mentions that what is missing is an option to turn off being added to groups. That’s where the annoying spam is coming from, random strangers with the ability to add you to their group without your consent. Unsubscribing with a spammer makes zero sense, you shouldn’t have to respond to them at all. Opt out of groups choice is necessary to put a stop to the unwanted messages, unless it’s by design and if that’s the case RCS chat needs to go.
wait everyone claims the RCS spam thing wasnt bad and wasnt an issue now its an issue and google has a fix ???? which is it ??