What The Tech: How to correctly unsubscribe from emails
BY JAMEY TUCKER, Consumer Tech Reporter
We all get too many emails. Some we signed up for. Others just start showing up out of nowhere. And when your inbox fills up, the easiest solution seems obvious: click “unsubscribe.”
But that quick fix can actually cause more problems than you think.
Not every “unsubscribe” link is safe
If spam calls and texts aren’t annoying enough, inbox spam can be just as frustrating. You delete them. Maybe dozens a day. And eventually, you’re tempted to scroll to the bottom and hit “unsubscribe.”
Here’s the problem
That link might not be there to help you. Take a typical spam email. It might claim there’s a problem with your account or urge you to update payment information for something you never signed up for. Most people can spot that as a scam. But what many don’t realize is that the unsubscribe button can be just as risky. Clicking it tells the sender your email address is active and that someone is paying attention. That confirmation can lead to even more spam.
What you should do instead
If you’re using Gmail, the better option is to report the message as spam.
When you do that, Google learns from it. Over time, similar emails are automatically filtered and sent straight to your spam folder.
It’s a simple step, but it helps clean up your inbox without giving scammers what they want. Not all unwanted emails are scams.
Some emails aren’t trying to trick you. They’re just clutter. Promotions, newsletters, and discount offers you may have signed up for at some point. Maybe you entered your email to get 20% off a purchase, and now you’re getting daily emails you don’t want. For those, unsubscribing is still the right move. You just want to do it safely.
Gmail has a tool to make this easier
Gmail now includes a “Manage subscriptions” feature that helps you clean up legitimate email lists. You’ll find it in the left panel. It shows you every recurring email sender and how often they’re contacting you. Some of them might be sending messages multiple times a day. From there, you can safely unsubscribe from trusted senders with just a click or tap. It may take a few days for those emails to stop. If they continue, you can always report them as spam.
The rule to remember
If you don’t recognize the sender and the email looks suspicious, don’t click “unsubscribe.” Scammers aren’t trying to remove you from a list. They’re trying to confirm you’re still there. And once they know that, you’ll likely hear from them even more.
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