Blocking Political Texts: Iphone Users Reclaim Peace

Political text messages can be invasive, especially when you didn't sign up for them. Fortunately, there are several ways to block or filter them on your iPhone. While you can't block texts from unknown numbers, you can filter them by enabling the Filter Unknown Senders option in your settings, sending them to a separate tab. You can also reply with STOP to unsubscribe from legitimate campaigns, and report spam messages by forwarding them to 7726 or filling out a complaint form. Additionally, you can use third-party call-and-text-blocking apps or create blacklists for specific keywords.

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Report spam texts by forwarding them to 7726

Political text messages can be annoying and sometimes even dangerous, as they may contain links that can infect your phone with malware. While you can't block texts from unknown numbers on an iPhone, you can report spam texts by forwarding them to 7726, the GSMA's Spam Reporting Service. Here's how:

First, open the Messages app on your iPhone and find the conversation containing the spam text you want to report. Long-press on the specific message you want to report. A small pop-up menu will appear at the bottom of the screen. Be careful not to tap any links in the message. Tap "More" in the bottom-left corner of the screen, and then tap the forward icon, which looks like a curved arrow in the lower-right corner. This will copy the text into a new message.

Next, enter 7726 as the recipient. This is the shortcode for the GSMA's Spam Reporting Service. Tap the send icon, usually an upward-facing arrow, and the message will be forwarded to the Spam Reporting Service. Your phone carrier may respond and ask for the number associated with the spam text. You can reply with the number, and they may open an investigation.

In addition to reporting spam texts, you can also take steps to reduce the number of spam texts you receive. Be cautious about sharing your phone number with websites and businesses, as this can give spammers access to your information. You can also create a secondary number through a service like Google Voice to use for registrations when you don't trust or know the brand. Remember, never click on links or reply to spam texts, as this indicates to spammers that your number is active. Instead, use the 7726 shortcode to report and help block spam messages for all users.

File a complaint online with the FCC

While there are some workarounds to reduce the number of political text messages you receive on your iPhone, such as filtering unknown senders, there is currently no way to completely block them. However, if you are receiving political text messages without your prior consent, you can file an informal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC has rules in place that prohibit political campaign-related autodialed or pre-recorded voice calls, including autodialed live calls, autodialed texts, and pre-recorded voice messages to cell phones without the recipient's prior express consent.

• Visit the FCC's website: Go to the FCC's official website at https://www.fcc.gov/\.
• Navigate to the Complaints section: Look for a tab or link labeled "Complaints" on the FCC's website. This is usually found in the main navigation menu or under a "Consumer" or "Help" section.
• Select the appropriate complaint category: The FCC handles a wide range of issues, including phone and text-related complaints. Choose the option that best describes your issue, such as "Unwanted Calls and Texts" or "Robocalls and Robotexts."
• Fill out the online complaint form: Provide as much detail as possible about your complaint, including the date and time you received the unwanted political text messages, the content of the messages, and any actions you took to try and stop receiving them. You will also need to provide your personal information, such as your name, address, and contact information.
• Submit the complaint: Once you have completed the form, review it to ensure all the information is accurate and comprehensive. Then, submit the complaint to the FCC.
• Follow up: After submitting your complaint, you may receive a response from the FCC providing additional resources or directing you to other agencies that can help with your specific issue. The FCC may also use your complaint to identify trends and track issues that require further investigation or enforcement action.

It is important to note that the FCC may not have the authority to resolve every individual complaint. However, by submitting a detailed complaint, you can help the FCC identify patterns of non-compliance and take appropriate action to enforce its rules and protect consumers. Additionally, you can also forward spam texts to 7726, which is a number used by carriers to monitor and block spam messages.

Filter unknown senders by going to Settings > Messages > Filter Unknown Senders

If you're tired of receiving unwanted political text messages on your iPhone, you can take control and put an end to them by enabling the "Filter Unknown Senders" feature. This handy tool allows you to automatically segregate messages from unknown contacts, effectively filtering out spam and promotional texts, including those pesky political messages. To activate this feature, simply follow these steps:

Go to your iPhone's Settings. Scroll down and tap on "Messages." In the Messages settings, scroll down until you see the "Filter Unknown Senders" option. Tap on the toggle switch beside it to turn on the feature. Once enabled, any messages sent by unknown contacts will be automatically filtered into a separate list, ensuring that your regular message thread remains free of clutter and unwanted content.

The unknown senders will now appear in a separate list, and you can choose to review these messages at your convenience. To access this list, open your Messages app and tap on the "Unknown Senders" tab at the top of the screen. Here, you'll find all the messages that have been filtered, including any political texts. From this list, you can choose to read or ignore them as you see fit.

By enabling the "Filter Unknown Senders" feature, you can effectively manage your message inbox and reduce the intrusion of unwanted political messages. This ensures that your personal space remains undisturbed, and you only receive messages from senders that matter to you. It's a simple yet powerful tool that gives you back control over your messaging experience on your iPhone.

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Block numbers by selecting the message and choosing the block option

If you're tired of receiving unwanted political text messages on your iPhone, you can block the senders by selecting the message and choosing the block option. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

First, open the Messages app on your iPhone and find the conversation thread with the political message you want to block. Then, tap on the specific message you want to block. By doing this, you will be able to view the message details.

In the message details screen, you'll see the sender's contact information, including their phone number. From here, you can choose to block the sender. Tap the "i" icon in the upper-right corner of the screen, which will open a new menu with more options.

In this new menu, you'll find the option to "Block this Caller." Tap on this option, and a pop-up window will appear asking you to confirm the blocking action. Tap "Block Contact" again to finalize the process.

Once you've completed these steps, the blocked sender will no longer be able to send you text messages or call you. Their messages will be automatically blocked, and you won't receive any notifications from them. You can view and manage your blocked contacts by going to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts.

Additionally, you can also report spam messages by forwarding them to 7726. This number is monitored by carriers, and they will investigate the source of the spam messages. However, reporting spam does not automatically block the sender, so you will need to take the additional step of blocking them as described above.

While blocking individual senders is an effective way to reduce unwanted political texts, it's important to note that political organizations often use different numbers to send messages, so blocking one number may not stop all messages. In that case, you might consider using a third-party call-and-text-blocking app, like "Sifter," which allows you to create blacklists of specific keywords associated with political messages.

Use a call-and-text-blocking app, like Should I Answer?, Hiya, or Truecaller

If you're tired of receiving unwanted political text messages on your iPhone, you can take control of your communications by using a call-and-text-blocking app. Here's where apps like Should I Answer?, Hiya, or Truecaller come into play.

Let's start with Truecaller, a widely-used app with over 433 million users worldwide. Truecaller empowers you to decide who can call and text you. You can block specific phone numbers, country codes, SMS senders, and more. One of its standout features is the ability to auto-block spammers, including telemarketers and robocalls, so you never have to deal with unwanted messages again. Truecaller also allows you to analyze spammers' calling habits, such as recent call counts and spam reports, to better understand the nature of these nuisance calls. The app offers a free feature that blocks the most problematic spam callers in your area when you switch on the 'Basic' Block Mode. Additionally, Truecaller updates its spam lists daily to keep up with spammers' constantly changing numbers.

Moving on to Hiya, this app is designed to provide a better phone experience by offering rich, real-time information about incoming calls. Hiya identifies calls you want to receive and blocks numbers you want to avoid, giving you the power to decide whether to answer. It includes features like auto-blocking and reverse phone lookup. While Hiya does access your contacts, it encrypts and protects your data, ensuring it won't be sold to third parties or used for marketing purposes.

Lastly, Should I Answer? is another option that relies on a community-generated and fully evaluated database of problem numbers. This database helps provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about whether to answer a call or not.

By using any of these apps, you can effectively manage and block unwanted political text messages on your iPhone, creating a more peaceful and spam-free communication environment.

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