Isabella Carter
Political spam text messages have become an increasingly common issue, with Americans receiving over 13 billion texts related to campaigns in October 2020 alone. These messages are often sent using auto-dial technology, which allows campaigns to send thousands of texts at a low cost. While campaigns are required to obtain prior consent to send these messages, this is not always the case, and individuals may find themselves bombarded with unwanted texts. This has led to frustration among recipients, who feel their personal space is being invaded. To stop receiving political text messages, individuals can reply STOP, block the number, or use a call-blocking app. However, it is important to exercise caution, as some of these messages may be scams designed to deceive recipients into clicking malicious links or divulging personal information.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for receiving political spam text messages | You provided a number on your voter registration or when you donated money to a campaign. |
| How to stop receiving political spam text messages | Reply with "STOP", “STOPALL”, “ENDALL”, or “CANCEL”. You can also block the number or use a call-and-text-blocking app. |
| What to do if you suspect the message is from a scammer | Block and report the number. Do not reply as this lets the scammer know that your number is real. |
| What to do if you receive a text that you think breaks the FCC rules | Forward the text to "7726", which spells out the word "SPAM". |
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What You'll Learn
Political campaigns use text messaging as a preferred mode of communication
Text messages are also versatile and can be used for various campaign goals, from fundraising to supporter outreach. They are seen as more casual and are easy to respond to, encouraging donors and voters to engage in conversation. This two-way conversation format is beneficial for campaigns as it provides an opportunity to further their goals and connect with their target audience. Additionally, text messaging is a relatively low-cost option for campaigns, making it an attractive choice, especially when combined with its high engagement rates.
During election seasons, it is common to experience an influx of text messages and calls from political campaigns. While these communications are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements, they must adhere to specific rules outlined by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). For instance, political campaigns must obtain prior consent from recipients before sending automated messages or making autodialed calls to mobile phones.
To manage the influx of political text messages, individuals can take several steps. Firstly, they can opt out by replying with keywords like “STOP,” “STOPALL,” “ENDALL,” or “CANCEL." Political organizations are required to remove individuals from their contact lists upon receiving these opt-out requests. Additionally, individuals can block specific numbers or use call-and-text-blocking apps to manage unwanted texts. However, it is important to note that these apps may request sensitive information, and users should exercise discretion in providing such details.
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Political text messages can be scams
There are a few reasons why you might be receiving these political text messages. Firstly, US voter information is public. When you register to vote, your information becomes available to various campaigns and voting organizations. Secondly, if you're affiliated with a political party or a voting-related organization, you may have unknowingly shared your phone number. Additionally, political organizations often buy phone number lists from other groups, leading to your number being shared across multiple campaigns.
To stop receiving political text messages, you can take several steps. Firstly, identify if the message is from a scammer or a legitimate campaign. If you suspect it's from a scammer, blocking and reporting the number is advisable, as replying may indicate that your number is active. You can report spam by forwarding the message to 7726 ("SPAM") on most carriers. Secondly, if the message is from a legitimate political organization, they should provide an option to opt out. Look for keywords like "STOP," "STOPALL," "ENDALL," or "CANCEL" in their messages, and reply accordingly. You can also change your phone settings to filter out unknown senders, although this may cause you to miss texts from senders not in your contacts. Finally, you can download a call-and-text-blocking app, although these apps may ask for sensitive information.
It's important to note that political text messages are subject to regulations. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) requires political campaigns to obtain prior express consent for autodialed or prerecorded voice calls and texts to mobile phones. Political robocalls to landlines are generally permitted without prior consent but are limited to no more than three calls within any consecutive 30-day period. If you believe a political text message violates these rules, you can file an informal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
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How to stop receiving political text messages
Political text messages can be annoying and invasive, especially when you didn't sign up for them. During an election season, it is common to experience an increase in such messages from political campaigns. While there are rules and regulations regarding these communications, such as the requirement for prior consent for autodialed or pre-recorded messages, manual messages can be sent without consent.
To stop receiving political text messages, here are some methods you can try:
- Reply "STOP", "STOPALL", "ENDALL", or "CANCEL": By replying with these keywords, you are revoking your consent and opting out of further messages. Political organizations are supposed to honor these requests.
- Block the number: After replying "STOP", you can block the number to prevent further messages from that specific sender.
- Report as spam: If you are receiving unsolicited political text messages, you can report the sender by forwarding the texts to 7726 or "SPAM".
- Use a call-and-text-blocking app: There are apps available, such as Junkman, Should I Answer?, Hiya, and Truecaller, that can help block unwanted political text messages. However, be mindful that these apps may ask for sensitive information.
- Change your phone settings: You can adjust your phone settings to filter out unknown senders or enable "Do Not Disturb" mode for unknown numbers. This method may cause you to miss important messages from unknown numbers, such as text reminders for appointments or reservations.
- Contact the organization directly: If you know the political organization sending the messages, you can try contacting them directly and requesting to be removed from their contact list.
- File a complaint: If you believe the political text messages violate FCC rules, you can file an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints.
By following these steps, you can take control and reduce the number of unwanted political text messages you receive.
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Political text messages are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry
During election seasons, it is common to experience an influx of calls and texts from political campaigns. While these are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry, they must still comply with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). This means that, in general, robocalls and robotexts to mobile phones require prior consent. Political robocalls to landlines are permitted without prior consent, but they must not exceed three calls within any consecutive 30-day period.
If you are receiving unwanted political text messages, you can take several steps to stop them. Firstly, check if the text messages are from a scammer or a legitimate campaign. If they appear to be from a scammer, it is advisable to block and report the number, as replying may indicate to the sender that your number is active. You can report spam text messages by forwarding them to 7726 or "SPAM".
If the text messages are from a legitimate political campaign, you can reply with keywords like "STOP", "STOPALL", "ENDALL", or "CANCEL" to opt out of receiving further messages. Most campaigns will honor these requests and remove you from their contact list. Additionally, you can use call-and-text-blocking apps or enable settings on your device to filter unknown senders and block notifications from them.
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Political text messages are on the rise
With the 2024 election approaching, Americans are experiencing a surge in text messages from political campaigns. This influx of political text messages is part of a growing trend where campaigns are increasingly turning to text messaging as a preferred mode of communication. Text messages are seen as a more effective way to reach voters compared to traditional methods like mailers or phone calls due to their low cost and high engagement rates.
During the 2020 election year, Americans received over 13 billion texts related to campaigns, and this number is expected to be even higher in 2024. This increase in political text messages can be attributed to campaigns recognizing the importance of text messaging as a pivotal component of their outreach strategies. Text messages offer a sense of immediacy and are more likely to be seen promptly by recipients compared to emails or phone calls.
However, this rise in political text messages has also led to concerns about potential scams and violations of personal space. Many people are frustrated by the volume of unwanted messages filling their inboxes, making it challenging to distinguish legitimate outreach from scams. Some bad actors exploit political texts to deceive recipients into clicking malicious links or divulging personal information. As a result, it is essential to treat political texts with caution and never click on links or interact with them without first verifying their legitimacy.
To stop receiving political text messages, individuals can reply with keywords like "STOP," "STOPALL," "ENDALL," or "CANCEL." Additionally, users can block numbers, report texts as spam, or use call-and-text-blocking apps. It is important to note that campaigns should honor opt-out requests, and individuals can file a complaint with the FCC if they continue to receive unwanted messages.
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Frequently asked questions
Political campaigns have increasingly turned to text messaging as a preferred mode of communication, surpassing traditional methods like mailers or phone calls because of the relatively low cost and high engagement rates.
There are several ways to reduce the number of political spam text messages you receive:
- Reply "STOP", “STOPALL”, “ENDALL”, or “CANCEL” to the message.
- Block the number.
- Forward the message to 7726 (SPAM) to report it.
- Download a call-and-text-blocking app.
If you are still receiving spam text messages after attempting to unsubscribe, you can file an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints.
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