The perceived absence of Yahoo FBL reports since late 2023 or early 2024 is largely due to two critical developments in the email ecosystem. First, Yahoo significantly updated its own Complaint Feedback Loop (CFL) system, requiring senders to re-enroll and adjust their parsing for new report formats that no longer include full message content. Second, and more profoundly, Google and Yahoo jointly implemented stringent new bulk sender requirements starting in February 2024. These mandates require strong email authentication like DMARC, a spam complaint rate below 0.3%, and a one-click unsubscribe option. When email programs fail to meet these stricter standards, messages are increasingly rejected, blocked, or routed directly to spam. Since FBL reports are generated only when recipients mark delivered emails as spam, a lack of inbox placement means no complaints can be registered, and consequently, no FBL reports are triggered. This shift, combined with some ISPs integrating complaint data into Postmaster Tools rather than direct email reports, contributes to the observed cessation of FBL reports.
14 marketer opinions
A sudden cessation of Yahoo FBL reports, particularly since late 2023 or early 2024, is primarily due to a combination of Yahoo's internal Complaint Feedback Loop (CFL) system updates and the widespread impact of new, stricter bulk sender requirements from Google and Yahoo. Yahoo required senders to re-enroll in their updated CBL system and modified the FBL report format to exclude full message content and use lowercase ARF messages. More profoundly, the new sender mandates, effective February 2024, necessitate robust email authentication like DMARC, a spam complaint rate under 0.3%, and an easy one-click unsubscribe option. When email programs do not meet these elevated standards, messages are frequently rejected, blocked, or automatically sent to the spam folder. This lack of inbox placement means recipients cannot mark emails as spam, consequently preventing FBL reports from being triggered. Additionally, many ISPs are transitioning to provide complaint data through their Postmaster Tools rather than traditional direct email reports, further contributing to the perceived absence of these reports.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks asks if the user has confirmed migration to the new Yahoo CBL system that rolled out last year, providing a link to Yahoo's complaint feedback loop page.
11 Sep 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks confirms that there was much discussion in the fall about the need to re-enroll for Yahoo's Complaint Feedback Loop (CFL) management system, providing a link to a Yahoo blog post.
14 Feb 2023 - Email Geeks
1 expert opinions
The absence of Yahoo FBL reports can be directly linked to Yahoo's updated bulk sender requirements, which became effective in February 2024. These stricter standards for email deliverability, encompassing robust authentication, easy unsubscribe options, and low complaint rates, significantly impact how messages reach inboxes. If emails fail to satisfy these criteria, they are likely to be blocked, sent to spam, or outright rejected by Yahoo. This inability to reach recipients means no user complaints are generated, thereby ceasing the flow of FBL reports.
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that recent changes in Yahoo's bulk sender requirements, effective February 2024, could be a reason for not receiving Yahoo FBL reports. These new requirements, which include strong email authentication (DMARC, SPF, DKIM), easy one-click unsubscribe, and maintaining a low spam complaint rate, dictate how emails are delivered. If a sender's emails do not meet these stricter standards, they are more likely to be blocked, filtered to spam, or rejected outright by Yahoo. Consequently, if emails are not successfully reaching recipients' inboxes, there will be no user complaints, and thus no FBL reports generated, potentially leading to a cessation of report receipt.
8 Apr 2022 - Word to the Wise
4 technical articles
The cessation of Yahoo FBL reports, particularly observed since late 2023 or early 2024, is predominantly a consequence of the stricter bulk sender requirements jointly implemented by Google and Yahoo, which became effective in February 2024. These mandates necessitate robust email authentication, a very low spam complaint rate, and a clear one-click unsubscribe option. When email programs do not meet these elevated standards, messages are often rejected, filtered into spam folders, or outright blocked, preventing them from reaching the intended recipients. Since Feedback Loop reports are contingent on users marking delivered emails as spam, a failure in inbox placement directly results in the absence of these crucial complaint reports.
Technical article
Documentation from Google Help explains that new sender requirements for bulk senders became effective in February 2024. These require DMARC authentication, one-click unsubscribe, and a spam complaint rate below 0.3%. If emails fail these requirements, they are likely to be rejected or routed to spam folders, meaning they won't trigger FBL reports, which could explain why reports stopped 'since December 2024' (likely meaning early 2024 or late 2023, anticipating these changes).
28 Nov 2023 - Google Help
Technical article
Documentation from Mailgun explains that compliance with Google and Yahoo's new sender requirements, enforced from February 2024, is crucial for email deliverability. These include DMARC alignment, one-click unsubscribe, and maintaining low spam rates. If your email program fails to meet these standards, Yahoo might block or spam-folder your messages, preventing them from being delivered and thus preventing FBL reports from being generated since 'December 2024' (interpreted as the period leading up to or after the February 2024 changes).
25 Aug 2022 - Mailgun Blog
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