- Google is removing a new Messages feature that made it easier to unsubscribe from automated business texts for users in the U.S. and Spain.
- The feature added a prominent unsubscribe button to chats, which sent a “STOP” command for the user after they provided a reason for unsubscribing.
- It’s unclear why the feature is being removed only in the U.S. and Spain but not other countries.
Businesses, charities, and political campaigns send millions of automated text messages daily. While many find these messages useful, others view them as unwanted clutter. In April, Google Messages introduced a feature to help users easily unsubscribe from these texts, but the company is already sunsetting it for users in some countries.
I first spotted the feature in early April as a new prompt at the bottom of my chats with businesses, which asked if I wanted to “unsubscribe to stop receiving messages.” Tapping the button launched a confirmation sheet asking for a reason, after which the Google Messages app would send a “STOP” command on my behalf.