Isabella Carter
Political text messages are a common occurrence during election season. Candidates and causes you may not have even heard of can bombard your phone with requests for votes or donations. While campaign phone calls and texts are exempt from the federal Do Not Call list, there are ways to reduce the clutter in your inbox.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to stop political texts | Reply "STOP" to the sender |
| Report as SPAM by forwarding the text to 7726 | |
| Change phone settings to filter out unknown senders | |
| Use a call-blocking service like Robokiller | |
| Remove your personal data from the Internet |
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What You'll Learn
Reply STOP to the sender
Political text messages can be a nuisance, especially during election season. They can fill up your inbox, making it hard to find messages from friends and family members. They can even pose a risk to your privacy and influence your voting decisions. So, what can you do to stop them?
If you're receiving political text messages, it's likely that you're on a list of potential voters. Political campaigns tend to find publicly available voter registration information and text those numbers. They also often use volunteers' personal cell phones, which is considered person-to-person (P2P) messaging and is not subject to the same regulations as application-to-consumer (A2P) messaging. This means that even if you didn't specifically provide your consent to receive these messages, they can still reach your phone.
However, there is a simple way to opt out of receiving these unwanted texts. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) states that if you reply "STOP" to the sender, they should remove you from their list. This is because, according to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), businesses and organizations need to ask for your permission before texting you, and they must honor your request to revoke that consent. So, by replying "STOP", you are revoking your consent to receive further messages.
After replying "STOP", you can also take additional steps to reduce the number of political texts you receive. Blocking the sender's number is one option. You can also change your phone settings to filter out all unknown senders, although this may cause you to miss important text reminders from senders not in your contact list.
Remember, your phone is your personal space, and you have the right to control the messages you receive. By taking these steps, you can reduce the clutter of unwanted political texts and focus on making informed voting decisions without outside influence.
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Block the number
Blocking the number is a good way to stop receiving political text messages. However, it is not always effective, as political campaigns often send texts from multiple numbers, and blocking one number will not stop texts from the others.
To block a number on an iPhone, open the text message and tap the profile icon in the upper-right corner. Then, scroll down and tap "Block this Caller." On an Android phone, open the text message, tap the three dots in the upper-right corner, and select "Block number."
It is also possible to change your phone settings to filter out all unknown senders. This can be done by going to the "Messages" settings and selecting the option to filter unknown senders. However, this may cause you to miss important text messages, such as reminders for doctor's appointments or restaurant reservations.
Another option is to use a call-blocking service, such as Robokiller, which can help to reduce the number of political text messages you receive.
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Filter out unknown senders in your phone settings
If you're tired of receiving political text messages on your iPhone, you can filter out unknown senders in your phone settings. Here's how to do it:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap "Messages."
- Toggle on "Filter Unknown Senders."
- Now, open the Messages app. You'll notice a slight difference; in the upper-left corner, you'll see "Filters" if you're not already on the filters screen.
- Tap "Filters."
- From this screen, you have the option to choose which messages you want to view. Select "All Messages" to see texts from all senders, or choose "Known Senders" to only receive messages from contacts you know. You can also select Unknown Senders or Unread Messages to review messages in those categories when it suits you.
By enabling the "Filter Unknown Senders" option, you can effectively reduce the influx of unwanted political texts. This method is especially useful if you don't want to block every single number that sends you political messages. It's worth noting that this feature is available on iPhones, and the process may vary slightly for other phone models.
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Withdraw consent
According to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), businesses must ask for your permission before sending you text messages. While political organisations are exempt from this rule, they are still recommended to follow it as a best practice. If you no longer wish to receive political text messages, you can withdraw your consent by replying "STOP" to the sender. This will inform the organisation that you no longer wish to receive their messages, and they should remove you from their contact list.
It is important to note that political campaigns often use volunteers' personal cell phones to send text messages, which is considered person-to-person (P2P) messaging. In this case, replying "STOP" may not be effective as they may have your number saved in their contacts. To fully withdraw your consent, you can block the number or change your phone number. Additionally, you can filter out text messages from unknown senders in your phone settings, although this may cause you to miss important messages from senders not in your contacts.
If you believe you are receiving political text messages without your prior consent, you can report the sender by forwarding the text to 7726 (SPAM) in the US. This will allow the relevant authorities to investigate and take action against unauthorised text message campaigns.
To completely withdraw your consent from receiving political text messages, you can also remove your personal information from public voter registration lists. This will make it more difficult for political organisations to obtain your contact information and send you unsolicited messages.
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File a complaint with the FCC
If you are receiving unwanted political text messages, you can file an informal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC has outlined specific rules regarding political campaign robocalls and robotexts. According to the FCC, political text messages sent to a mobile phone using an autodialer require the recipient's prior express consent. However, if you are receiving unwanted texts, you can take the following steps:
- Reply "STOP" to the text. By law, the sender must honor your request to revoke consent.
- Report the sender by forwarding the texts to 7726 or "SPAM".
- File an informal complaint with the FCC if you believe you have received a political robocall or text that does not comply with the FCC's rules.
Filing a complaint with the FCC can be done online at fcc.gov/complaints, which is the quickest and most effective method. Alternatively, you can file a complaint by phone at 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) or by ASL Video Call at 1-844-432-2275. If you prefer to submit your complaint by mail, send it to the following address:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
45 L Street NE
Washington, DC 20554
Be sure to include your name, address, contact information, and as many details about your complaint as possible. It is important to note that in some cases, the FCC may not have the authority to resolve individual complaints. However, they can provide additional resources and guide you through possible next steps. Additionally, by filing a complaint, you contribute to federal enforcement and consumer protection efforts.
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Frequently asked questions
According to the FCC, legitimate text campaign operators should remove you from their list if you reply with "STOP". You can also report the sender by forwarding the text to 7726 or "SPAM".
You can also go to your phone's "messages" settings and filter out text messages from anyone not in your contact list. However, you might end up missing text reminders from unknown numbers, such as for doctor's appointments or restaurant reservations.
Political organizations tend to send texts to publicly available voter registration numbers. They may have also gained your number through your online activity, such as online orders or social media platforms.
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