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Summary

Since mid-November, many email senders have observed a significant and sudden increase in List-Unsubscribe requests originating from Gmail-based domains. This trend has sparked discussion among deliverability professionals, as it appears disconnected from typical indicators like stable spam rates or improved IP/domain reputation in Google Postmaster Tools. The increase raises questions about recent changes in Gmail's user interface (UI) or internal handling of List-Unsubscribe headers, particularly concerning one-click unsubscribe functionality. While an increased unsubscribe rate might seem negative, it is generally considered a healthier outcome than recipients marking emails as spam, which can severely impact sender reputation.

What email marketers say

Email marketers have shared various perspectives on the observed increase in List-Unsubscribe requests from Gmail. While some have noticed similar trends, others report no change in their unsubscribe rates from Gmail. Many agree that this phenomenon likely points to a change in how Gmail presents or processes unsubscribe options, rather than a significant decline in sender reputation or an increase in spam complaints. The challenge lies in distinguishing between a genuine change in user behavior and automated system interactions.

Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests that Gmail now includes a prominent warning at the top of emails saying "This is part of a newsletter... unsubscribe here," which might explain the increase in unsubscribe requests.

06 Dec 2019 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Email marketer from Quora indicates that when you try to clean up your email and unsubscribe from many lists, and then receive more junk email, it could imply your email was sold or that unsubscribing reinforced its reputation, leading to increased spam.

22 Mar 2023 - Quora

What the experts say

Email deliverability experts agree that the observed increase in List-Unsubscribe requests from Gmail is a real phenomenon, likely driven by changes in Google's mail platform or user interfaces. While the 'unsubscribe instead of report spam' option has been around for a long time, its increased visibility or new proactive prompts could be influencing user behavior. Experts emphasize that facilitating unsubscribes is a positive development for senders, leading to a healthier email ecosystem and better long-term inbox placement.

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests that Gmail tends not to display the list-unsubscribe option to users when the sender's reputation is already poor. This implies that if the unsubscribe option is now more visible, it might indicate an improvement in the sender's reputation.

06 Dec 2019 - Email Geeks

Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise confirms that Gmail has been offering the option to unsubscribe rather than report as spam for more than a decade, specifically since July 2009.

06 Dec 2019 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says

Documentation from various email marketing and deliverability platforms consistently emphasizes the importance of the List-Unsubscribe header for compliance, user experience, and overall email ecosystem health. Gmail and Yahoo have been at the forefront of encouraging and now mandating its use for bulk senders. The one-click unsubscribe feature, formalized by RFC 8058, is a key component, allowing for immediate opt-outs directly from the inbox interface. These measures are designed to reduce spam complaints by offering a clear, accessible alternative to marking an email as junk.

Technical article

Documentation from Campaign Refinery highlights that the list-unsubscribe header has become an increasingly common and anticipated feature in email marketing, driven by both industry best practices and evolving legal requirements.

15 Dec 2023 - Campaign Refinery

Technical article

Article from Mailjet outlines Gmail's introduction of an automated unsubscribe feature, designed to allow subscribers to effortlessly opt out from newsletters directly through the interface.

29 Jun 2018 - Mailjet

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    Why are List-Unsubscribe requests from Gmail increasing suddenly? - Technical - Email deliverability - Knowledge base - Suped