# Take Charge of Who Can Access Your Personal Information While Texting
In the current digital era, maintaining privacy is crucial for numerous users, especially regarding messaging platforms. With the emergence of Rich Communication Services (RCS) in applications like Google Messages, users can benefit from enhanced functionalities such as multimedia sharing, message read confirmations, and typing notifications. However, these advantages bring forth the additional task of controlling your personal information, including your name and profile image, which could be seen by others. Fortunately, Google Messages offers extensive tools that empower you to govern who can access your data and the extent of what is shared.
## Importance of Managing Your Profile
Utilizing Google Messages with RCS ties your profile to your Google account. Consequently, your name, profile image, and other information might be visible to those you communicate with. While this feature can enhance the intimacy and engagement of conversations, it simultaneously poses privacy risks. For example, you might prefer that not everyone you message has visibility into your profile details, particularly if they aren’t saved in your contacts.
By adjusting your profile settings, you can make sure that your personal data is only accessible to those you trust. This not only safeguards your privacy but also provides comfort while using the application.
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## Steps to Manage Your Profile in Google Messages
Here is a detailed guide to assist you in taking charge of your profile visibility in Google Messages:
### 1. Launch the Google Messages App
Begin by opening the **Google Messages** app on your Android device.
### 2. Access Your Profile Settings
Click on your **profile image** located in the upper-right corner of the app. This will display a menu with multiple options.
### 3. Go to “Your Profile”
Choose the **Your profile** option from the menu. This will redirect you to the **Customize how you are seen** section.
### 4. Modify Your Profile Photo Visibility
On this page, you have the ability to control who can view your profile image:
– Tap the **camera icon** next to your image.
– Decide between **Anyone** or **People that you interact with**. The latter limits visibility to those you’ve engaged with through Google apps like Google Photos.
– Press **Save** to finalize your selection.
### 5. Update Your Name
Underneath your profile image, you’ll notice an option to modify your name by tapping the **Pencil icon**. Remember that any changes made here will reflect across all Google services associated with your account.
### 6. Manage Who Can View Your Name and Image
Scroll down to the **Show name and picture to** section. Here, you can select from these options:
– **People you message**: Your profile information will be visible to anyone you message, regardless of whether they’ve saved your contact.
– **Only your contacts**: Only individuals who saved your number will have access to your profile information.
– **No one**: Your profile information will be concealed from everyone, irrespective of whether they possess your number.
### 7. Save Your Preferences
Once you’ve made your choices, your adjustments will take effect immediately.
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## Important Considerations for Privacy Settings
– **”People you message” Option**: This setting permits anyone you message to access your profile information, reducing privacy. Utilize this option only if you’re comfortable with broad disclosures of your details.
– **”Only your contacts” Option**: This finds a middle ground between privacy and accessibility since only those who have saved your number can see your profile.
– **”No one” Option**: This represents the highest level of privacy, ensuring that your profile information is hidden from all.
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## Enhanced Messaging Experience with RCS
Google Messages, enhanced by RCS, provides a comprehensive texting experience akin to apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. Features comprise:
– **Media Sharing**: Transmit high-quality photos, videos, and additional files.
– **Read Receipts**: Be informed when your message has been read.
– **Typing Indicators**: Observe when the recipient is typing.
– **Emoji Reactions**: Respond to messages with emojis for swift reactions.
Moreover, Google Messages incorporates advanced AI capabilities like **Magic Compose**, which leverages on-device AI models to generate suggested replies based on the conversation’s context. This feature makes texting more instinctual and effective.
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## Privacy and Security in RCS Messaging
A key feature of RCS messaging is **end-to-end encryption**, which guarantees that your discussions stay private. However, it’s essential to be aware of the following:
– **Android-to-Android Chats**: RCS conversations between two Android devices are fully encrypted.
– **Android-to-iPhone Chats**: Although iOS 18 introduced RCS support for iPhone users, encryption is not yet available for Android-to-iPhone conversations. This poses a potential security issue for cross-platform interactions.
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## Concluding Thoughts
Managing your profile in Google Messages is
