No Cause for Panic: Digital Advocacy in the iOS 26 Era
iOS 26 Text Filtering Is Stirring Political Messaging; Here’s Why Digital Advocacy Is More Vital Than Ever
By: Vivek Kakar, Digital Associate
Apple’s iOS 26 update introduces more advanced spam detection and text filtering — changes that are already disrupting how political campaigns and advocacy organizations reach their audiences. While designed to enhance user experience, these changes could have unintended consequences for organizations that rely heavily on SMS for organizing and outreach. The update has the industry on edge, but the digital advocacy experts at The Herald Group are staying calm.
At The Herald Group, we see iOS 26 as less of a crisis and more of a case study in why resilient, multi-channel digital advocacy strategies are no longer optional — they’re essential.
This past June, Apple gave the world a sneak peek at their latest software updates, inadvertently sending some on Capitol Hill into a frenzy. The new features of Apple’s iOS 26 update include new screening tools that detect spam and filter out messages from unknown numbers when opted in. While many view these features as a win for users tired of spam texts (remember the toll-text scams that made national headlines just a few months ago?), others, especially on Capitol Hill, are sensing danger.
Following the news of Apple’s newest update, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) circulated a memo projecting a potential $500M+ in lost revenue caused by the iOS update. About 70% of the committee’s grassroots support comes in via text, which for the longest time has been a strong, effective channel. The NRSC isn’t alone. Across the aisle, campaigns and advocacy groups of all types — from grassroots movements to corporate coalitions — are asking the same question: What now?
The answer, in our view, is simple: this isn’t a crisis. It’s a reset — a moment to reexamine what your digital program is truly built on.
When a campaign relies too heavily on a single channel, like SMS, an update like iOS 26 can throw the entire communications strategy off course overnight. And it’s not just Apple. Across the board, platforms are rewriting the rules. From algorithm shifts to stricter opt-in requirements and enhanced privacy protections, it’s getting harder for advocacy groups to break through. Direct access to audiences via SMS, email, or social can no longer be taken for granted.
At the Herald Group, we’ve long known the importance of building diversified, adaptive, and creative digital advocacy programs that meet the moment. And now, the moment is here.
Digital advocacy isn’t optional. Rather, it’s a strategic necessity.
Successful campaigns don’t just survive platform updates — they thrive because they’ve built strategic depth. That means:
Multiple entry points: Paid social, programmatic display, and CTV ads ensure your message reaches audiences whether they’re scrolling, searching, or streaming.
Consistent storytelling: Content strategy, influencer partnerships, and SEO-optimized web experiences create a unified narrative across channels.
Data-driven agility: First-party data and performance analytics allow teams to quickly adapt, reallocate spend, and refine messaging when a channel gets disrupted.
These aren’t just buzzwords — they’re the exact approaches we take with our clients every day.
Take one of our long-standing financial services clients. As proposed regulations gained traction in Congress, our award-winning digital team launched a surround-sound campaign that put their message in front of policymakers through more than 50 distinct digital tactics, from hyper-targeted display ads to contextually placed CTV ads and strategic social media advocacy.
The result? Consistent visibility on the Hill, record engagement across channels, and a public affairs footprint that was built to last, regardless of what Apple, Meta, or Google does next.
iOS 26 is just one example of how fast the digital terrain can shift. Tomorrow, it’ll be a change to Meta’s ad policies, a new algorithm on X, or a privacy law that reshapes how we collect data. The only constant is change and the only winning strategy is one that’s built to evolve with it.
At The Herald Group, we’re not just reacting to the moment. We’ve been preparing for it. And we’re helping our clients move forward smarter, faster, and with more resilience than ever.