Is there a way to whitelist who can group message me or disable group messages all together?

[Android Central Question]

I am constantly getting included in group messages I don't want to be in with dozens of people I don't know. I keep blacklisting these groups but it doesn't matter if it's a new group every other day. Ultimately I want to be able to make a rule that if persons x, y, &/or z are in the group, then allow it, otherwise automatically block the group message. If I can't do that, then I want to block ALL group messages.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! I'm not aware of a way to whitelist contacts for group messages. Are these people you know, or are you getting spammed by an unknown person?

Please register on this forum, which will allow you to engage in discussion more easily, as well as post images. https://forums.androidcentral.com/ask-question/409154-join-android-central-community.html

 

[WalPOW_VX9]

This is mostly because of people at work who are needlessly & continuously adding my number to work related group messages that have nothing to do with me. Having a phone is not a requirement for me to do my job & I'm tired of being bothered by it. This also happens from 3rd shifters who include me & wake me up. My sounds are on at night for a personal, medical reason. Then there is of course elderly family members who include my number with a dozen other people I don't know but that is only bi-weekly or so.

If I can't white list people, I guess I just want a text messaging app that doesn't support group messages.

 

[B. Diddy]

Sounds frustrating. Is there any way to discuss the issue with your manager at work, perhaps to set up a policy about creating group message threads? I'm sure most of your coworkers think they're being "helpful" and inclusive, but I would also guess that there are others who feel exactly the same as you.

 

[WalPOW_VX9]

Not really an option, as supervisors are the biggest offenders. Last year I told my supervisor that I would block him if it happened again & after blocking him, life got harder. It's bad enough that I'm tempted to get a new phone number & not tell anyone.
Group messages weren't always a thing & the stock app from Oneplus doesn't reply to the group, so I'm sure this could be done. It's just not a problem for enough people to be implemented, I'm sure.

 

[WalPOW_VX9]

Hey everyone, something happened on 3rd shift that I want to mention 3 hours before you get to work but I'm just going to talk about it again at the startup meeting anyway.
Followed by 20 replies from 3rd shift & 1st shift people who get up at 4am.
I said, You keep waking me up before my alarm goes off. If this happens again I will block ever person in this group. Then I did just that the next day & it made life harder because individual texts are far easier than driving around to find someone in person when I occasionally need to communicate.

 

[B. Diddy]

Man that must be so irritating. Are you at least scheduling Do Not Disturb to turn on while you're asleep, so that those messages don't trigger a notification prior to your alarm?

 

[WalPOW_VX9]

Due to the medical condition of a family member, I have my sounds on at night in case there's an emergency.

 

[WalPOW_VX9]

You'd think this would be an easy thing to change with just a few "if, than" statements. If it's a group message, than automatically blocklist.

 

[B. Diddy]

Due to the medical condition of a family member, I have my sounds on at night in case there's an emergency.

Ok, in that case, you can set exceptions for who can still call or text you in the DND settings.

Since you're talking about "if then", you may want to look into macro apps like MacroDroid, Tasker, or IFTTT.