What is considered Prohibited Content? – TSG

The following messaging use cases are not allowed on SMS or MMS in the United States or Canada. The below information applies to long code messaging with the rollout of the new A2P 10DLC system, in addition to short-code and Toll-Free messaging. Lastly, we have provided some suggested alternatives for conducting certain forbidden use cases.

Please note that there are some rules about message contents, even when your use case is not forbidden. For example, using shared public URL shorteners is not allowed by US carriers and will result in filtering.

Forbidden message categories for SMS/MMS in the US/Canada

CATEGORY

EXAMPLES

NOTES

High-risk financial services

Payday loans
Short-term high-interest loans
Third-party auto loans
Third-party mortgage loans
Student loans
Cryptocurrency

“Third-party” means originating from any party other than the one which will service the loan.

Third-party lead generation services

Companies that buy, sell or share consumer information.

Debt collection or forgiveness

Third-party debt collection
Debt consolidation
Debt reduction
Credit repair programs

“Third-party” means originating from any party other than the one who is owed the debt. For example, a hospital could send messages regarding bills for its patients, assuming they provided opt-in to receive that message.

“Get rich quick” schemes

Work-from-home programs
Risk investment opportunities
Pyramid schemes

This is different from outreach about employment due to compliant opt-in practices, messages from brokerages to their members, investment news alerts, or other investment-related messages.

Illegal substances

Cannabis (United States)
CBD (United States)
Prescription drugs

Cannabis is federally illegal in the United States. Cannabis businesses will not be permitted to use SMS/MMS messaging in the US, regardless of message content.
CBD is federally legal but is not legal in some states, so US carriers do not permit messaging related to CBD.
Offers for drugs that cannot be sold over-the-counter in the US/Canada are forbidden.

Gambling

Casino apps
Gambling websites

Gambling traffic is prohibited in the US and Canada on all types (Toll-Free, ShortCode, Long Code).

"S.H.A.F.T." use cases

Sex
Hate
Alcohol
Firearms
Tobacco

While Tobacco traffic is prohibited on Toll-Free, it is allowed on Short Code or Long Code, as long as proper age gating procedures are in place.
Alcohol traffic is allowed on Toll-Free (US only), Short Code, and Long Code, as long as proper gating procedures are in place.
Firearms and Vaping-related traffic are prohibited.

Please note that any use cases that violate TSG's Acceptable Use Policy are also not allowed on TSG's platform, regardless of number/sender type or destination country.