It’s the year 2024, and we have flying taxis, self-driving cars, and homes that can change temperature based on our moods. So why can’t we stop those incessant political texts from flooding our phones all day long?

Just last week, I received three to four texts each hour. Most of them implore, coax, or even threaten me to contribute to their campaigns immediately. They imply that if I don’t, democracy could be in peril! How can I ignore the call to save America?!

It’s not as straightforward as you might assume, and it doesn’t really matter whom you plan to vote for in the fast-approaching election. Those unsolicited, annoying texts come from all corners.

Earlier this year, I got bombarded with so many Trump-related robotexts that I felt like tossing my phone into a volcano. But now? Apparently, Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, and Tim Walz are all personally trying to reach me.

In an ideal world where we’re all friends DM-ing each other the latest memes, that would be fantastic. However, in reality, it’s just a nuisance. At worst, it could be a scam aimed at stealing my private data and hard-earned cash, not to mention a complete time-waster that eats into my valuable minutes trying to block it all.

So what do we do? How can we get it to stop?!

How to stop political texts on your smartphone

Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple, free, universal “mute” option to banish those annoying political texts for good. Yet, there are several strategies to lessen their frequency.

Here’s how to start:

• Reply by sending STOP to the sender. This is effective if the sender is a valid business or organization because they are legally bound to stop messaging you. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) can penalize them significantly if they continue to bother you.

The FCC claims that the same rules should apply to campaign texts, but it gets complicated here: Political campaign texts are not covered by the Do Not Call list.

They are meant to have your permission to text you, but it’s hard to track how and where they obtained your consent for mass messaging. Sometimes, they might not need your confirmation — particularly if a person manually types the message, unlike the “auto-dial” technology that blasts thousands of numbers at once. These political robotexts are not permitted, as per the FCC.

So how did they acquire your number, and when did you agree to have your phone buzz at all hours? Chances are it was buried in the fine print on a website when you made an online purchase, used a social media site, or clicked “Agree” on a form that permits sharing your phone number with “other service providers.” Often, data brokers collect this information and sell it to the highest bidder.

According to call-blocking service Robokiller, Americans received an astounding 15 billion political texts in 2022, averaging 50 messages per phone in the country. Given that expectation for 2024, that record is likely to be surpassed.

• “If you’re receiving unsolicited texts, report the sender by forwarding the texts to 7726 (or “SPAM”).

• Tap “Delete and Report Junk” and block the sender.

• File a complaint with the FTC or the FCC.

Utilize your phone’s built-in spam filter

You’re not entirely done yet. If you have an iPhone or an updated Android phone from the past few years, be sure to use the built-in features:

• On iPhone: Go to Settings and tap Messages. Scroll down and turn on the Filter Unknown Senders option. This will move texts from those not in your contacts to a separate inbox.

• On Android: Access the Messages app and go to Settings. Select Spam Protection and enable it. Note that different Android devices may have slightly different settings.

After applying these methods, the majority of unwanted texts vanished within about a week.

How to identify spam texts

If you’re getting texts you didn’t sign up for, treat them as spam. If the message creates a sense of urgency and urges you to act quickly, that’s a huge red flag.

Above all, never click any links — not ever — no matter what they claim. Many may contain malware or lead you to a phony site that appears authentic, but if you make a donation, it might go to a scammer instead of a legitimate campaign.

The only acceptable time to click a link in a text is from someone you truly trust, like a close family member or friend. Even then, I sometimes hesitate and will reach out directly to verify whether they sent me the link before clicking on it.

Scammers often use spoofed numbers — like those matching your local area code — to appear legitimate. Don’t be fooled.

Other indicators of a scam include:

• A “short code” number. Robokiller reports that about 60% of spam messages arrive via short codes — five or six-digit numbers. The same applies to unusual long numbers.
• Unfamiliar messages like “Hey, it was nice to see you last night” from someone you don’t know. You may be tempted to reply, “I don’t know you,” but it’s safer to delete/report/block. Responding merely confirms that you have a live number, making you an even more appealing target.
• Misspellings, Messages with poor grammar or incorrect names.
• Texts claiming “you’ve won a prize” from businesses, contests, or debt relief schemes.
• Job offers that seem suspicious.
• Any communication requesting personal information.

There’s an app for that

Several apps for both iPhone and Android devices help protect against spam by filtering out unwanted calls and texts, as reported by fellow users. I’ve tried out some of these applications, such as NoMoRobo, Robokiller, and YouMail.

To utilize their features fully, you typically need to subscribe, with costs ranging from $5 to $15 monthly. They not only help block spam calls but provide comprehensive services to keep your phone quieter.

Ultimately, the best way to combat scammers is to stop engaging with them financially. It’s important to share this advice with others, so we can collectively diminish their operations for good.