Understanding SHAFT SMS Regulations

Welcome to our guide on SHAFT SMS regulations. This article aims to inform Patch clients about the critical aspects of SHAFT (Sex, Hate, Alcohol, Firearms, and Tobacco) regulations in SMS marketing and communication. This also applies to online gambling and sweepstakes. Understanding and complying with these regulations is essential to ensure effective and lawful communication with your audience.

SMS marketing is a powerful tool, but it comes with its own set of rules and regulations. This guide is meant to demystify S.H.A.F.T. compliance and other SMS regulations. It provides you with best practices, ensuring that you stay compliant and your campaigns are effective and lawful. 

Overview of SHAFT SMS Regulations

These regulations are designed to monitor and control the use of certain keywords in SMS communications, especially in marketing, to ensure they adhere to legal and ethical standards. Some traffic may be allowed by law in some states, due to carriers working throughout the nation and not knowing where a recipient might be, a national standard is carried out in most areas. Although most of these standards are adopted by all carriers, some of these may be required by only one carrier and impact your sending to their recipients only. One example of this would be CBD - although legal in some states, carriers don't allow any traffic as it is not legal in many states. Compliance with these regulations is not just a legal obligation but also crucial for maintaining a responsible and respectful communication channel.

Impact on SMS Communication

SHAFT regulations significantly impact how businesses can communicate with their customers via SMS. It is possible to send restricted traffic to some groups, specific steps must be taken to ensure deliverability and that your messages will not be blocked. Please reach out to our Customer Success team for more specific information on age gating and the steps necessary to send restricted traffic.

To stay compliant, it is crucial to:

• Avoid using language that can be interpreted as offensive, inappropriate, or relevant to any of these terms.
• Understand the context in which certain words are used, as it can change their appropriateness.
• Regularly update your SMS content strategies in line with the evolving regulations and social standards.

As mobile carriers continue to adopt AI in their processes, there may be times when your traffic gets blocked accidentally. Please reach out to our Customer Success team if you feel your messages aren’t being delivered so we can let you know if it is being blocked.

List of SHAFT Spam-Blocked SMS Keywords

Please note that the following list is not exhaustive but includes examples of keywords and topics that are often flagged under SHAFT regulations (this includes online gambling and sweepstakes):

• Sex: Keywords related to explicit adult content, certain anatomical terms, and suggestive language.
• Hate: Words promoting hate speech, discrimination, or violence against specific groups or individuals. These may include topics related to:
  • • Aging
    • Discrimination 
    • Harassment
    • Murderousness
    • Race
• Alcohol: Brand names of certain alcoholic beverages, slang for intoxication, and language that encourages excessive drinking.
  
  • • Ale
    • Bar
    • Beer
    • Bootleggers
    • Booze
    • Bourbon
    • Brandy
    • Brewpub
    • Champagne
    • Cocktail
    • Elixir
    • Gin
    • Intoxicant
    • Kegs
    • Lager
    • Liqueur
    • Liquor
    • Microbrew
    • Mixed Drink
    • Mixer
    • Moonshine
    • Pale Ale
    • Pale Lager
    • Pub
    • Rum
    • Saloon
    • Schnapps
    • Seltzer
    • Spirits
    • Tavern
    • Tequila
    • Vodka
    • Whiskey
    • Whisky
    • Wine

• Firearms: Terms related to guns, ammunition, and violent language involving weapons.
  • • Ammo
    • Ammunition
    • Artillery 
    • Bullet
    • Gun
    • Musket
    • Pistol
    • Revolver
    • Rifle
    • Shooting
    • Shot
    • Shotgun

• Tobacco-CBD: Names of tobacco products, slang related to smoking, and phrases that promote tobacco use.
  • • 420
    • 4/20
    • Bong
    • Cannabis
    • Cbd
    • Cigar
    • Cigarette
    • E-cigarette
    • Hookah
    • Marijuana
    • Nicotine
    • Pot
    • Smoke
    • Tobacco
    • Vape
    • Weed
      
      
• Online Gambling/Giveaways:
  • • Bet
    • Bingo
    • Blackjack
    • Jackpot
    • Lottery
    • Lotto
    • Poker
    • Raffle
    • Roulette
    • Slot
    • Sweepstakes

Please remember, this is not an exhaustive list and is meant as more of a guideline to help you understand the words that might be blocked for SHAFT violations. Any variation, brand name, or implied phrases may be blocked. Even if some words are used in a different context than listed here, they may be blocked from filters due to the nature of the standalone word itself.

Strategies for Compliance

To ensure compliance with SHAFT regulations:

• Conduct regular audits of your SMS content.
• Train your staff to be aware of these regulations and the importance of using appropriate language.
• Implement monitoring tools to oversee your SMS communications and flag potential violations.

Understanding and adhering to SHAFT SMS regulations is vital for legal compliance and maintaining a respectful communication environment. By following the guidelines and best practices outlined in this article, you can navigate these regulations effectively and maintain a positive relationship with your audience.

The information provided in this article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. While we strive to keep the information up-to-date and accurate, we make no warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in this article for any purpose. Compliance with laws and regulations related to SMS marketing, including S.H.A.F.T. and CTIA guidelines, is the responsibility of each business. We strongly recommend consulting legal and compliance professionals for personalized advice tailored to your needs.