Summary
- Google Messages has an optional new Sensitive Content Warning feature that blurs inappropriate images.
- It’s disabled by default for adults, but parents can easily manage it for children under 18.
- Real-time location sharing could be added soon, making it easier to share your location with family or friends.
Do you wish Google Messages had a few more features, like location sharing and blocking unwanted images? If so, you’re in luck. This week, we learned that Google is rolling out a new feature that blurs inappropriate images and is preparing to release another that’ll take it one step closer to matching iMessage.
Last year, Google announced several initiatives to make Google Messages safer. While many of those involved spam and blocking numbers, a big aspect of its goal is finally rolling out this week. Here’s what you can expect.
Sensitive Content Warnings in Google Messages
Google Messages is rolling out new sensitive content warnings that blur inappropriate messages like nudity. It’ll also remind and caution people before they send this type of content. The new feature will be available in the latest Android app update. Instead of instantly seeing an image you might not want to look at, you’ll see a blurred image with a warning before it opens.
These new “Sensitive Content Warnings” will be turned off by default on adult accounts, as it is an opt-in feature. For those under 18, it’ll automatically be enabled to prevent unwanted content from getting through. While it can easily be turned off in settings, parents can control it through the Family Link app.
The system works in two ways. First, these warnings will “remind users of the risks of sending nude imagery and preventing accidental shares,” and you’ll have to hit confirm to continue sending this type of content. Then, those who receive sensitive content and have the feature enabled can delete the image without ever seeing it. Otherwise, you can tap yes to view and unblur the image.
For now, this only works on images and does not apply to videos. Additionally, as noted by 9to5Google, everything happens on-device, and the image content system “doesn’t send identifiable data or any of the classified content or results to Google servers.” To get started, fire up Google Messages, navigate to Settings > Protection & Safety >, and tap on Manage sensitive content warnings.
Real-Time Location Sharing
That’s not all, either. Google is preparing at least one more highly requested feature for its Messages platform. Real-time location sharing is an extremely popular iMessage feature, and while Google Maps has a solid location-sharing feature, it could undoubtedly be better.
Sure, you can temporarily share your location with a family member or friend inside Google Messages, but that’s more of a pin on a map than anything. However, according to an APK teardown by Android Authority, Google could be gearing up to allow real-time location sharing.
In the latest version of the Google Messages beta for Android, a new line of code mentions a shortcut to enable live location sharing. The feature and shortcut aren’t available yet, or even enabled in the beta version of the app, but it’s a sign of things to come. We’re hopeful it’ll work similarly to iMessage, making it easy to tap on a contact in Google Messages and enable real-time location sharing. However, it’ll likely only work if both contacts use Google Messages. We’ll keep an eye out for more details.
Earlier this month, Google also added a new unsubscribe button to easily block spam numbers, and RCS support is constantly improving and playing nicely with iPhones. Then, in March, Google fixed some longstanding bugs with sending images and videos.
Source: 9to5Google, Android Authority
