When you block someone on your phone, it’s usually because you want to avoid their calls, texts, or messages altogether. But have you ever wondered what happens to those blocked messages? Do they get delivered to your phone, only to be filtered out by the blocking mechanism? Or are they completely lost in cyberspace, never to be seen again?
In this article, we’ll delve into the world of blocked messages and explore what happens to them when you hit that block button. We’ll examine the different messaging platforms, operating systems, and scenarios to give you a comprehensive understanding of how blocked messages are handled.
What Happens When You Block Someone?
When you block someone on your phone, you’re essentially telling your device to reject any incoming communication from that particular number or contact. This can be done through the phone’s built-in blocking feature, or through third-party apps that offer blocking capabilities.
When you block someone, your phone will typically do the following:
- Reject incoming calls from the blocked number, sending it straight to voicemail
- Filter out incoming texts and messages from the blocked number, preventing them from appearing in your inbox
- Prevent the blocked contact from seeing your online status or last seen timestamp
However, what happens to those blocked messages is where things get interesting.
Do Blocked Messages Get Delivered on Android?
On Android devices, when you block someone, their messages are not delivered to your phone. Instead, they’re stored on the carrier’s server and marked as “blocked” or “rejected.” This means that the message is never actually received by your device, and therefore, you’ll never see it.
However, if the blocked contact tries to send you a message multiple times, they may receive a delivery report indicating that the message was not delivered. This can give them a hint that you’ve blocked them, but it’s not a definitive indication.
A Note on Android Messages and Hangouts
It’s worth noting that if you’re using the default Android Messages app or Google Hangouts, blocked messages may still be stored on Google’s servers. This means that even though you’ve blocked the contact, their messages may still be accessible through the messaging app’s web interface or other devices connected to your Google account.
What About iPhones and iOS?
On iPhones and other iOS devices, the story is slightly different. When you block someone on an iPhone, their messages are indeed delivered to your device, but they’re filtered out by the iOS operating system.
The blocked messages are stored in a separate “Blocked Messages” folder, which is not visible to the user. This means that even though the message has been delivered, you’ll never see it, and it won’t appear in your regular message inbox.
However, if you’re using an iPhone and you’ve blocked someone, they may still be able to send you iMessages, which can be a bit confusing. This is because iMessage is a separate service that uses your iCloud account, and blocking someone on your iPhone doesn’t necessarily block their iMessage account.
What About Other Messaging Platforms?
What about other popular messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram? Do blocked messages get delivered on these platforms?
- WhatsApp: When you block someone on WhatsApp, their messages are not delivered to your phone. They’ll see a single checkmark () indicating that the message was sent, but it will not be marked as delivered. This can be a bit confusing, as the blocked contact may think that their message was delivered, but you’ll never receive it.
- Facebook Messenger: When you block someone on Facebook Messenger, their messages are delivered to Facebook’s servers, but they’re not delivered to your device. You’ll never see the message, and the blocked contact will not receive a delivery report.
- Telegram: When you block someone on Telegram, their messages are not delivered to your device. Instead, they’re stored on Telegram’s servers, and the blocked contact will see a “Not Delivered” status.
What Happens to Blocked Messages on Social Media?
What about blocked messages on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook? Do they get delivered?
- Twitter: When you block someone on Twitter, their @mentions and direct messages are not delivered to your timeline or inbox. You won’t see their messages, and they won’t be notified that you’ve blocked them.
- Instagram: When you block someone on Instagram, their messages and comments are not delivered to your inbox. They won’t be notified that you’ve blocked them, but they may notice that their messages are not being replied to.
- Facebook: When you block someone on Facebook, their messages are not delivered to your inbox. They won’t be notified that you’ve blocked them, but they may notice that their friend request or message is not being accepted.
A Note on Blocked Messages and Online Safety
Blocking someone can be an important step in maintaining your online safety and security. If you’re being harassed, bullied, or threatened by someone online, blocking them can help prevent further contact.
However, it’s essential to remember that blocking someone is not a foolproof solution. Determined individuals may find ways to circumvent blocking mechanisms or use alternative methods to contact you. Therefore, it’s crucial to take additional steps to protect yourself online, such as:
- Using strong passwords and two-factor authentication
- Being cautious when sharing personal information online
- Avoiding suspicious links and attachments
- Reporting abusive behavior to the platform or authorities
Conclusion
In conclusion, blocked messages can be a complex and confusing topic. While some platforms store blocked messages on their servers, others filter them out entirely. Understanding how blocked messages are handled can help you make informed decisions about your online safety and security.
Remember, blocking someone is not a guarantee that they’ll never contact you again. It’s essential to take additional steps to protect yourself online and maintain healthy boundaries with others.
By being aware of how blocked messages work, you can take control of your online interactions and ensure a safer, more enjoyable experience on the internet.
What happens when someone blocks me on messaging apps?
When someone blocks you on a messaging app, it means they have taken steps to prevent you from sending them messages, making calls, or interacting with them in any way on that platform. This is a privacy feature implemented by most messaging apps to help users control who can contact them. When you’re blocked, you won’t receive any notifications or indications that you’ve been blocked. You might only suspect something is amiss when your messages aren’t getting delivered or responded to.
However, being blocked doesn’t necessarily mean your messages aren’t getting delivered. In some cases, your messages might still be delivered, but the recipient won’t see them. This is because blocking someone doesn’t delete previous conversations or messages. The blocked person’s messages will remain in the chat, but new messages from the blocked person won’t be displayed or notified to the recipient.
Do blocked messages get delivered on WhatsApp?
On WhatsApp, when someone blocks you, your messages won’t be delivered to them. You won’t get any error messages or notifications indicating that your messages haven’t been delivered. However, you might notice some subtle changes. For instance, you won’t see a “delivered” or “read” tick next to your messages, and your messages won’t be marked as “delivered” or “seen.” If you try to call the person who blocked you, the call won’t go through, and you’ll hear a busy tone or an error message.
It’s essential to understand that even if your messages aren’t delivered, they might still be stored on WhatsApp’s servers. This means that if the person who blocked you decides to unblock you in the future, they might see the messages you sent while you were blocked.
Do blocked messages get delivered on Facebook Messenger?
On Facebook Messenger, blocked messages don’t get delivered to the recipient. When you try to send a message to someone who has blocked you, you won’t receive any error messages or notifications. Your message will appear as “sent” on your end, but it won’t be visible to the person who blocked you. If you try to send multiple messages, they might all appear as “sent” on your end, but they won’t be delivered to the recipient.
Keep in mind that blocking someone on Facebook Messenger only prevents them from sending you messages. If you have a mutual friend or are connected to the same group, you might still see each other’s posts or comments.
Do blocked messages get delivered on Instagram?
On Instagram, blocked messages do get delivered, but the recipient won’t see them. When you send a message to someone who has blocked you, it will appear as “sent” on your end, and you might even see a “delivered” notification. However, the recipient won’t receive any notification or see the message in their inbox. Blocked messages are essentially hidden from the recipient’s view.
It’s essential to understand that even though blocked messages are delivered, they won’t be displayed to the recipient. If the person who blocked you decides to unblock you in the future, they might see the messages you sent while you were blocked.
Can I retrieve blocked messages?
In most cases, you can’t retrieve blocked messages, but there are some exceptions. If you’re using WhatsApp, for instance, you can try contacting the person who blocked you through a different medium, like a phone call or email. If they respond, they might see your previous messages and be able to retrieve them.
However, this approach doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be able to retrieve blocked messages. The recipient might not respond or acknowledge your messages, leaving you with no way to retrieve them. It’s essential to respect people’s privacy and boundaries when it comes to blocking.
How can I tell if someone has blocked me?
There’s no foolproof way to determine if someone has blocked you, but there are some signs that might indicate you’ve been blocked. For instance, if you’re not seeing “delivered” or “read” ticks next to your messages, it could be a sign that you’ve been blocked. You might also notice that the person’s profile picture or information is no longer visible to you.
Another sign of being blocked is if you can’t see the person’s “last seen” or “online” status. If you’re used to seeing these status updates, and they suddenly disappear, it could be a sign that you’ve been blocked. However, these signs alone don’t necessarily mean you’ve been blocked. The person might have simply deactivated their account or changed their privacy settings.
What should I do if I’ve been blocked?
If you suspect someone has blocked you, it’s essential to respect their decision and boundaries. Don’t try to contact them or send repeated messages, as this can be seen as harassment. Instead, focus on other relationships and connections in your life.
It’s also a good idea to reflect on why you might have been blocked. Did you send annoying or repetitive messages? Were you pushy or aggressive in your communication? Use this as an opportunity to improve your communication skills and be more considerate in your online interactions.