I have been advising people I know to block, then delete and report junk (iOS) to unwanted texts. Others have argued with me that you should reply STOP. I disagree, especially after checking a shortened link in a “campaign” text and finding the link was a phishing attempt. What do you think?
Ask HN: Should you reply STOP to unwanted texts?
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Re: Ask HN: Should you reply STOP to unwanted texts?
#2No. Reacting to any unwanted contact just moves you further into their funnel. Ideally don’t even open the text.
Re: Ask HN: Should you reply STOP to unwanted texts?
#3It kinda depends on which platform handles their bulk messages. For example, if they are messaging you through Twilio, replying with "STOP" will cause Twilio itself to opt you out of messages (https://help.twilio.com/articles/223134027-Twilio-support-fo...), and the sender can't disable that (https://help.twilio.com/articles/360034798533-Getting-Starte...). It's kinda like how Mailchimp handles unsubscriptions for recipients, no matter what the sender wants.
However, if they're using some other carrier or rolling their own VOIP setup, etc., or sending from a toll-free number instead of a shortcode, there's no guarantee that their particular platform will honor STOP. And there's no way for you, as a recipient, to know which is which.
Generally I will reply STOP if it's something I know I signed up for but no longer want. Things I never signed up for just get reported as spam and I don't reply.
Re: Ask HN: Should you reply STOP to unwanted texts?
#4It pisses me off that Outlook no longer allows you to report something as spam anymore without also sending an unsubscribe. Because I do feel uncertainty of how that signal could be used.
Re: Ask HN: Should you reply STOP to unwanted texts?
#5It kinda depends on which platform handles their bulk messages. For example, if they are messaging you through Twilio, replying with "STOP" will cause Twilio itself to opt you out of messages ( https://help.twilio.com/articles/223134027-Twilio-support-fo... ), and the sender can't disable that ( https://help.twilio.com/articles/360034798533-Getting-Starte... ). It's kinda like how Mailchimp handles unsubscriptions fo…
You can check if a number is using Twilio via a special number: https://www.twilio.com/en-us/blog/lookup-phone-carrier-recor....
Re: Ask HN: Should you reply STOP to unwanted texts?
#6Never use SMS for anything other than the automatic notifications, so I really don't care in the first place.
Re: Ask HN: Should you reply STOP to unwanted texts?
#7I think it depends on the carrier. With Verizon, replying STOP seems to block the number. But I only do that with political texts (I get a lot of them). For phishing I just delete/report junk.
Re: Ask HN: Should you reply STOP to unwanted texts?
#8I approach texts and emails the same way as web servers and simply not respond.
STOP/HTTP 403/unsubscribe all tell the other end that the address has something there. You’ll end up just reinforcing your place on a list of phone numbers to pass around.
Re: Ask HN: Should you reply STOP to unwanted texts?
#9In my experience it doesn't do much. For example, I made the mistake of contributing to the campaign of a politician. Now I get texts from candidates all over the country. If I reply STOP to one, I just get sent more texts from another number, for another candidate in another state. I just got tired of replying with STOP after the 20th time. This just guarantees I'm never giving any money to any candidate ever again.
Re: Ask HN: Should you reply STOP to unwanted texts?
#10Replying STOP sends a clear signal that this number is being used by a real person.