Android version of Google Messages introduces Alerts for Potentially Offensive Material
Google Messages for Android Introduces Sensitive Content Warnings Feature
Google Messages for Android has rolled out a new feature aimed at enhancing user safety and privacy. The Sensitive Content Warnings feature automatically detects and blurs images containing nudity using on-device classification powered by Android's SafetyCore system [1][3][5].
The implementation of this feature ensures that all image analysis happens locally on the user's phone, preserving privacy as no identifiable image data or classification results are sent to Google servers.
When a potentially explicit image is received, it is blurred by default, and users see a warning with options to learn why such images can be harmful, block the sender, or choose to view or ignore the image. Similarly, when sending or forwarding a flagged image, the app prompts a warning explaining the potential risks and requires users to confirm before proceeding [1][3][5].
User Management by Age Group
The feature's availability and management vary based on the user's age. For adults (18+), the feature is off by default and can be enabled from Google Messages Settings. For unsupervised teens (13-17 years of age), they can disable or enable it in their Google Account settings. Supervised accounts (children) cannot disable the feature themselves, and parents can manage it through the Family Link app [1][3][5].
Managing the Feature
Adults can enable the feature by navigating to Google Messages Settings > Profile Picture > Messages Settings > General > Protection & Safety > Manage sensitive content warnings and enabling "Warnings in Google Messages". Parents, on the other hand, can manage the feature for children via the Family Link app by selecting the child’s profile, navigating to Controls > Contacts, Calls + Texts > Sensitive content warnings, and toggling warnings on or off. The child receives a notification about changes [3].
Privacy and Control
Since classification occurs entirely on the device, Google preserves user privacy by not transmitting any image content or classification results externally [1][3][5]. This ensures that users maintain control over their digital communication while benefiting from the added safety measures.
This implementation is part of Google's broader commitment to safer digital communication, combining AI-powered detection with strong privacy safeguards and parental controls to protect users, especially children, from unwanted explicit content [1][3][5]. The safety feature works on devices with a signed-in Google Account in Google Messages and is not applicable for devices running on operating systems other than Android.
[1] https://support.google.com/messages/answer/10839317 [2] https://support.google.com/messages/answer/9569129 [3] https://support.google.com/families/answer/9301298 [4] https://support.google.com/families/answer/9301300 [5] https://blog.google/products/android/sensitive-content-warnings-google-messages/
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