While spam phone calls have been around for ages, spam text messages are fairly new due to the tremendous popularity of smartphones. In fact, complaints about spam text messages were up 146% from 2020 to 2021, and it seems like there’s no easy way to fix them.
However, text tracking is a way to pinpoint the source of SMS messages so that you can gain some power over the spammers and telemarketers that are flooding your inbox. Here is everything you need to know.
What Is Text Tracking?
Text tracking can actually take on a few different definitions.
Typography
For one, the idea of text tracking can refer to the concept of increasing or decreasing the horizontal spacing of letters in digital fonts. Kerning tracks the letter spacing between each character, with optical kerning taking individual letters into account and metric kerning considering the spacing of specific groups of letters like "wa," "LA," or "Tr."
This is a concept many graphic designers will be familiar with, especially if you use the type tool from Adobe inDesign to create logos, billboards, or news headlines. When you hear the phrases "open tracking," "close tracking," or "negative tracking," this refers to the functions within the typographical definition of text tracking.
Text tracking is used for everything from entire blocks of text to special characters to a single character in typography.
USPS Tracking
Text Tracking is also a service offered by the United States Postal Service to send SMS delivery updates to customers regarding their package status.
Users can request USPS text tracking messages by sending a message to 28777 (2USPS) to receive the latest tracking information, learn of a delivery attempt, see statuses like "Notice Left," know if their package is ready for pickup or discover any additional updates regarding their package. You can also sign up on the USPS website and reply "YES" to the welcome message sent to your mobile device. Additional functions include routing information and the package's current zip code.
You can cancel or unsubscribe from these messages at any time, and you can adjust the notification options to choose between a single text response or ongoing updates on the latest tracking activity for your package.
SMS Tracking
However, you’re probably thinking of text tracking in the form of messages on your cell phone. There are a couple of different examples of this. One definition of SMS tracking is monitoring text messages after they are sent from a user's mobile device.
In other words, when you send a text message, the recipient gets the content of the message almost instantaneously. However, there are times when a message does not make it to its intended endpoint due to malfunctions in carrier service or improper encoding. Text messages trackers can monitor when a text message was queued, sent, and delivered successfully on Android or iOS.
SMS trackers are typically external applications that can track exactly where an applicable message is throughout the sending process. However, iPhone and Android phones typically have text message trackers built into their messaging apps that let you know when a message was delivered successfully.
On the other hand, text tracking can also refer to trying to pinpoint exactly where a text message came from. This can be useful when receiving spam messages or an SMS from a stranger. Tracking can be used to figure out exactly where and who has sent you a given message.
Tracing a call or a text back to its source is not possible without special tools available to police and other law enforcement personnel. However, that doesn’t mean you’d never be able to figure out who exactly is spamming your inbox.
Tracking the Origin of an Unsolicited Text Message
If you’re wondering if there’s a way to track down the source of a call or text like they do in movies, the answer is no. However, you have some tracking options for the origins of a text message.
One of the easiest options is to check Google. If you enter the phone number into Google, it’s likely to link back to a company or public institution where the call is coming from. But if nothing turns up, it’s probably a private number, a mobile phone, or a fake phone number.
You can also try doing a reverse phone number lookup. Services like Spokeo allow you to input the given phone number to see if any results show up. If so, you’ll be able to see some information for free, as well as detailed information with payment.
Also, you can check spam websites like Truecaller to check the validity of a text message in general. The chances are high that the spam text message is linked back to several other circumstances of spam, and Truecaller can reveal if this same number has been used to spam others before you.
Finally, you can pinpoint the source and purpose of an unknown call or text with Firewall, an app that creates a whitelist based on your contacts. You’ll get a detailed breakdown of who is calling you and why so that you can decide whether or not to let it ring through.
Not to mention, it makes it easy and efficient to block spam text messages within the app.
Tracking Family Member’s Texts
If you’re a concerned parent who wants to be able to monitor your kids' activity on their new smartphone, there are some ways to keep track of their correspondence with others.
For one, Apple’s cloud messaging sync feature allows all phones on the same plan to share text messages with one another. This makes it easy for you to see specific information on exactly when and who your children are speaking with whenever they use their phones. The only downfall is that your messages may also become synced with the messages on their end, so that they can see your active text info, too.
Instead, you can use an external application to monitor sent, received, and deleted text messages, as well as activity on other applications. MSpy, for instance, is a paid service that lets you keep track of what your child (or other family members) are doing on their phones so that you can have some peace of mind.
Can My Text Messages Be Tracked?
If there are some ways to try to find out the origin of someone else’s phone calls, it’s natural to think that others can do the same to you. And while someone can potentially use the same tactics to trace your text reply back to you, there are ways to protect your privacy.
Burner is an app that provides you with a second burner number outside of your primary number. This means that any sender who tries to reach you will only have access to your burner number, helping to shield your number from strangers. Not to mention, only your burner number appears on someone’s caller ID when you reach out to them.
Additionally, be sure not to share your passwords and usernames to cloud-sharing platforms with other people, as this may allow them to access further messages and emails from other devices.
We suggest engaging in safe and thoughtful interaction with others while using your smart device to help avoid any problems down the road.
In Conclusion
Text tracking is a term that can refer to several different concepts. Outside of alignment and the adjustment of space in typography, it may refer to the concept of monitoring the status of a text message as it gets sent to a recipient.
Another form of text tracking refers to the idea of tracking the origin of a spam text message from an unsolicited individual. This is normally only done by police or other law enforcement personnel. Still, Google searches or applications like Spokeo may help to uncover the hidden identity of callers and texters who are contacting you without consent.
Finally, text tracking may also refer to keeping tabs on the incoming, outgoing, and deleted messages that your children or other family members have been making. This can be useful to help make sure your children have healthy interactions via their technological devices.
Sources:
Complaints about spam texts were up 146% last year. Now, the FCC wants to take action | NPR
Beginning Graphic Design: Typography | GCFGlobal
How To Recognize and Report Spam Text Messages | Federal Trade Commission