Gmail will finally get a time-saving emoji feature, but there's a catch

Date:
Mon, 02 Oct 2023 19:09:50 +0000

Description:
Google will let you react to emails however you want, but it may result in a wave of spam to those not using the Gmail app.

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Google is working on giving Gmail users the opportunity to react to emails with a single emoji on iOS and Android phones.

Rumors regarding emoji reactions on Gmail have been circulating for several weeks although, outside of a few screenshots , we hadnt seen it in action until recently. Industry insider AssembleDebug managed to get the feature working on their Android device and shared their findings on TheSpAndroid
blog .

According to the report, a new button will appear to the right of the email next to the three-dot menu. Tapping it opens a small menu where you pick from five default emojis: a sparkling heart, a party popper, a thumbs up, a laughing face, the praying hands (which people use to say thank you), as well as your run-of-the-mill smiley face. Once selected, that emoji appears in a reaction bar below the message, as you see in messaging platforms. (Image credit: AssembleDebug/TheSpAndroid)

TheSpAndroid states there will be two other places from where you can react
on an email. There will be an Add Reaction option in the three-dot menu plus an extra button at the bottom of an email next to Reply, Reply All, and Forward.

This feature will reportedly work on email threads that include multiple people. They explain that "it may be possible to react just by tapping"
emojis somebody else added previously. Of course, users will be able to send any emoji they want by tapping the Plus symbol in the small window that pops up. Youll have the full library at your disposal. (Image credit: AssembleDebug/TheSPAndroid) Limitations

As fun as this update may sound, there are several limitations present with one in particular that could potentially ruin the experience.

If other people dont use the official mobile app, theyll receive the emoji reactions in separate emails. Imagine sending an email out to a group of people and getting spammed with multiple emails of emoji reactions. Not fun. It's important to note that the browser version of Gmail may not have the new emoji support.

It looks like Google is aware of the spam problem as users wont be allowed to react to emails sent to a large group. So there is some mitigation, but it probably won't be enough to stop the spam. Also, you wont be able to send emojis to encrypted emails or any received via BCC. The limit for reactions
is capped at 20 for one person. In a group, the limit is bumped up to 50 for all.

Its unknown when this update will roll out. However, AssembleDebug claims it will most likely happen sometime this month and in batches. If this comes true, we hope Google quickly releases a version for browsers soon after or installs extra preventative measures to slow down the spam.

Gmail is a widely used service, but you might find its security capabilities rather lacking. For more options, be sure to check out TechRadars list of the best secure email providers for 2023 .



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/software/gmail-will-finally-get-a-time-sav ing-emoji-feature-but-theres-a-catch


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