Google Messages: Googles Latest Stupidity

[SyCoREAPER]

In the latest Message update this screen pops up. I think it existed before but don't remember.
By default it looks like below.

One would think the verbage implies 'People YOU message' means exactly that, "you", as in you reply to or initiate.
However Google's often not so transparent and ambiguous wording doesn't allow for implied.

Does this mean you accidentally reply to a spam message with Google's suggested responses it sends your name and photo now?

Be on the lookout after the latest update and make sure for your privacy and security you change the drop-down below your name to 'Only your Contacts' from the default. It should pop-up automatically.

 

[spARTacus]

...Does this mean you accidentally reply to a spam message with Google's suggested responses it sends your name and photo now?..

Ha. Probably. Worse yet, folks will also start using it to try to spoof others, like fake caller IDs. With a verifiable ID method in place it'd not be a terrible idea. Until that's implemented and widely adopted however, it might actually make things worse.

...Be on the lookout after the latest update and make sure for your privacy and security you change the drop-down below your name to 'Only your Contacts' from the default. ..

Just avoid using it (the send name/profile-picture feature) altogether is my suggestion (hopefully one still can), since anyone that is supposed to have your details should already have those in their contacts and address book.

 

[SyCoREAPER]

Ha. Probably. Worse yet, folks will also start using it to try to spoof others, like fake caller IDs. With a verifiable ID method in place it'd not be a terrible idea. Until that's implemented amd widely however, it might actually make things worse.


Just avoid using it altogether is my suggestion (hopefully one still can), since anyone that is supposed to have your details should already have those in their contacts and address book.

RCS is my trade-off to those who refuse to let go of SMS. Alternative is phone calls which nobody likes or send me a postcard.

If neither of those are worth the effort, they aren't worth it.

Either way, Google needs to hire some individuals with higher brain function if they want to stand a chance in maintaining the few true fans they have left.

 

[spARTacus]

RCS is my trade-off to those who refuse to let go of SMS. Alternative is phone calls which nobody likes or send me a postcard.

If neither of those are worth the effort, they aren't worth it.

Either way, Google needs to hire some individuals with higher brain function if they want to stand a chance in maintaining the few true fans they have left.

Yeah it's basically my SMS replacement also right now, and for slightly better security.

My guess is Google is trying to see if folks want to use RCS in a manner similar to how some use for social media chat apps. And, if some of those types of features will attract people to it, or even away from other chat apps. I don't blame them. However, the particular feature isn't something I'd be currently interested in using.

 

[SyCoREAPER]

Yeah it's basically my SMS replacement also right now, and for slightly better security.

My guess is Google is trying to see if folks want to use RCS in a manner similar to how some use for social media chat apps. And, if some of those types of features will attract people to it, or even away from other chat apps. I don't blame them. However, the particular feature isn't something I'd be currently interested in using.

No doubt. What I don't like, this the (PG version) half-baked approach they took/take and treat us like guinea pig beta, sometimes alpha level testers.

Look how well that went for Google+ and Stadia. Undercooked and rushed out.

This however is something nobody asked for. If people are important or known enough to message, you likely have them in your phone book with a name and picture already making this entire thing a pointless exercise.

 

[spARTacus]

...the (PG version) half-baked approach they took/take and treat us like guinea pig beta, sometimes alpha level testers....

I feel your frustrations and basically agree with you. However, it's not unlike most apps nowadays in terms of throwing something out there to see if it works with what warts and such. At least for this the user can choose (I assume, not 100% sure since the update in question hasn't yet arrived for me) to simply ignore and not use the feature.

 

[SyCoREAPER]

I feel your frustrations and basically agree with you. However, it's not unlike most apps nowadays in terms of throwing something out there to see if it works with what warts and such. At least for this the user can choose (I assume, not 100% sure since the update in question hasn't yet arrived for me) to simply ignore and not use the feature.

The picture I agree that's on you at least for now. So far it only pulls your name from your Google account and not picture.

To you and me, it makes sense to change this setting. The older or less techy demographic will see the big dopamine Continue button and press it without thought to get back to their previous messaging. The issue isn't that it's an option, it's that it's the default option and looks very similar to the Continue screen that RCS had.

I agree that apps do the throw the dookie at the wall approach but at least there's a vision and direction. Google just does stuff to change it up and never follows through. But again the bigger issue is the privacy aspect of why does this exist in the messaging ecosystem at all on Google's side. If you and I knew each other, were both using SMS/RCS, we have each other's info in our Contacts.

This accomplishes nothing except confusion and accidentally replying to spam and providing your name and picture which may seem trivial but a lot can be extrapolated just from the name associated to the number (which is why my Google accounts don't use my real name anywhere).

To summarize, this is a non-issue for me personally but I have a problem with how they are doing this for those that don't understand.

This seems like a lot of Google bashing, which it is, but this is what happens when you go from the cool kid on the block that everyone loved to being that neighbor that turned out to be a serial killer all along.