Simone Lawson
Political text messages are a common nuisance, especially during election season. These messages are sent by political campaigns, party committees, political action committees (PACs), and interest groups to solicit money or votes. While they are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry, there are ways to reduce or block them. One option is to change your phone settings to filter out unknown senders, but this may cause you to miss important text reminders. Alternatively, you can manually block each number that sends you a political text, but this may be ineffective if the sender uses multiple numbers. The most effective way to stop receiving political texts is to reply STOP to revoke your consent. If the messages persist, you can report them as spam by forwarding them to 7726.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| On iPhone | Navigate to Settings, select "Messages", toggle on "Filter Unknown Senders" |
| On Android | Open the Messages app, choose the text from the number you want to block, tap the option to block the number, and choose whether to report it as spam |
| For suspicious numbers | Block and report the number, do not reply as this lets the sender know your number is real |
| For legitimate campaign numbers | Reply with keywords like "STOP", "STOPALL", "ENDALL", or "CANCEL" to unsubscribe |
| Call-and-text-blocking apps | Should I Answer?, Hiya, Truecaller, Youmail, Calls Blacklist, Malwarebytes Mobile Security |
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What You'll Learn
Blocking and reporting numbers
If you're tired of receiving endless political text messages, there are several ways to block and report these numbers. Here are some methods to help you regain control of your inbox:
Blocking Unknown Senders
If you're using an iPhone, you can filter out messages from unknown senders by going to Settings, selecting Messages, and turning on the "Filter Unknown Senders" option. This will move messages from unknown numbers to a separate "Unknown Senders" tab. Unfortunately, you can't block unknown numbers on iPhones, but this filtering feature helps to declutter your main inbox.
For Android users, the process is more straightforward. Simply navigate to the message from the number you want to block, select it, and choose the option to block the number. You can also enable spam protection in your Messages app settings.
Blocking and Reporting Spam
If you're receiving spammy political texts, you can forward the message to "SPAM" (7726). This alerts your carrier, who will investigate whether the number is a known spammer. This method is particularly useful if the sender seems untrustworthy or is asking for money.
Using Blocking Apps
There are dedicated call-and-text-blocking apps, such as Should I Answer?, Hiya, and Truecaller. These apps can enhance your blocking capabilities, but be aware that they may request sensitive information.
Opting Out
In some cases, political organizations may include an opt-out option in their texts, such as replying "STOP" or "UNSUBSCRIBE." If you're sure the message is from a legitimate campaign, you can use this method to remove yourself from their contact list.
Contacting the Campaign
If all else fails, you can contact the political campaign directly and request that they remove you from their messaging list. This can be effective, especially since volunteers often send these texts, and they should comply with your request.
By using these methods, you can effectively block and report unwanted political text messages, reducing their frequency and impact on your daily life.
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Using SMS filtering
Political text messages can be a nuisance, especially when you start receiving them from multiple numbers. Luckily, SMS filtering can help you block these unwanted messages. Here's how you can do it:
IPhone
If you have an iPhone, you can enable the “Filter Unknown Senders” option in your settings. To do this, open the Settings app, scroll down and select Messages, then scroll again to find and toggle on "Filter Unknown Senders." This will sort messages from people who aren't in your contacts into a separate list, so you don't have to see them in your main inbox.
You can also try third-party apps like TM Check by Trend Micro, which is a free spam call blocker and text filter. Another option is the Sifter App, which allows you to create rules or keywords to filter messages. For example, you can block messages containing specific politicians' names.
Android
For Android phones, the process may vary slightly depending on your device. However, a common method is to open your Messages app, then go to Settings and select Spam Protection or something similar. From there, you can enable spam protection, which will help filter out unwanted messages.
Additionally, on Android, you can block specific numbers. Open the Messages app, choose the text from the number you want to block, and follow the steps to block the number. You can also use call-and-text-blocking apps like Should I Answer, Hiya, and Truecaller, but keep in mind that they may ask for sensitive information.
Other Options
If you're still receiving political texts, you can try contacting the political campaign directly and asking them to remove you from their contact list. You can also report them to the FCC if they continue sending messages after you've requested to be removed.
Another option is to use advanced SMS filtering apps like Robokiller, which offers political SMS filtering that blocks messages based on their content, not just the sender's number. This service is available for both iPhone and Android users.
By following these SMS filtering methods, you can effectively reduce the number of unwanted political text messages you receive.
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Using call-and-text-blocking apps
If you're tired of receiving endless political text messages, call-and-text-blocking apps can be a great solution. These apps can help you automatically identify and block spam numbers, giving you much-needed peace of mind. Here are some of the top apps in this category:
Truecaller
Truecaller is one of the most well-known and highly-rated call-and-text-blocking apps available for both Android and iOS devices. The app is free to use and automatically blocks telemarketers and robocalls. One of its standout features is the ability to auto-block spam, so you never have to worry about dealing with unwanted messages again. Truecaller also allows you to manage and block messages from within the app, providing a comprehensive solution.
Call Control
Call Control is another popular option for Android and iOS users, with 12 million users worldwide. This app automatically blocks spam calls, including those from telemarketers and robocallers, and lets you create a personal blocklist to keep unwanted callers at bay. While Call Control is a paid service, it offers excellent functionality and has received great reviews from users.
Should I Answer?
Should I Answer? is a community-driven app that provides you with information about incoming calls. It relies on user-generated ratings and reviews to categorize callers as telemarketers, scammers, or unsolicited. This app makes it easy to block numbers, and it offers various configuration options, such as blocking outgoing calls to premium numbers.
Hiya
Hiya is a simple yet effective solution for blocking unwanted callers and texters. Whenever you receive a spam call or message, Hiya sends a notification that allows you to block the number with a single tap. Hiya also enables you to look up phone numbers to find the name or Caller ID.
Mr. Number
Mr. Number is a dialer and spam blocker app that is particularly useful for blocking telemarketers. It allows you to block calls and messages from a specific number, geographic area, or even an entire country. Mr. Number also offers a lookup feature to identify the owner of any number and alerts you to potential fraud calls.
Call Blacklist
Call Blacklist is a versatile app available for both Android and iOS. It operates on a simple principle: if a number is not on your contacts list, their calls and messages will be blocked. This app also allows you to schedule quiet time, ensuring you won't receive any calls or messages during that period.
While these apps can be incredibly useful, it's important to note that some of them may collect sensitive information. Always review the privacy policies before installing any call-and-text-blocking app to ensure you're comfortable with the data being collected.
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Contacting the campaign
To contact the campaign, you will need to find a trusted phone number or email address. You can usually find this information on the campaign's official website. If you cannot find this information, try searching for a physical address or contact form on the website. Once you have found a way to contact the campaign, simply send them a message asking them to remove you from their contact list. Provide them with your phone number and any other relevant information.
If the campaign continues to send you text messages after you have asked them to stop, you can report them to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC has a system for texting that works similarly to reporting unwanted phone calls, and they can help block political text messages from your phone. You can file an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints, or by mail. If you choose to mail your complaint, be sure to include your name, address, contact information, and as many details about your complaint as possible.
It is important to note that political campaigns are required to obtain your consent before sending automated messages, and they must respect your opt-out requests. This is outlined by the FCC, and failure to comply with these regulations could result in the campaign's messages being blocked by phone carriers in the future.
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Using spam protection
Political text messages can be invasive, especially when you didn't sign up for them. Fortunately, there are several ways to block these unwanted texts using spam protection.
First, you can enable spam protection on your phone. Many phone companies are taking advantage of FCC rules that allow consumers to be enrolled automatically in call-blocking services. You can contact your phone company to learn more about the blocking and labelling solutions available to protect you from unwanted and illegal calls. Some phone companies also enable their customers to block additional unwanted calls by enrolling in a service or installing an app.
Second, you can use third-party call-and-text-blocking apps, such as Should I Answer, Hiya, and Truecaller. However, these apps may ask for sensitive information.
Third, you can report spam texts. If you are receiving texts that you didn't ask for, you can report the sender by forwarding the texts to 7726 or "SPAM". Campaigns should also honour opt-out requests if you reply "STOP", “STOPALL”, “ENDALL”, or “CANCEL”. If the sender seems particularly sketchy, such as sending false information or asking for money on an unknown site, you can also report them as spam.
Finally, you can file a complaint. If you think you've received a political text that does not comply with the FCC's rules, you can file an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints. You can also file a complaint by mail or get online and fill out the FTC's complaint form.
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Frequently asked questions
You can filter unknown senders by going to Settings, selecting "Messages", and toggling on "Filter Unknown Senders". You can also forward the message to 7726 or use a call-and-text-blocking app like Truecaller.
Open the Messages app, select the text from the number you want to block, and tap the option to block the number. You can also enable spam protection by going to the Messages app Settings, and selecting "Spam protection".
If you suspect the number is from a scammer, block and report the number. Replying to a scammer lets them know your number is real. You can also forward the text to SPAM, or 7726.
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