Newsletter subscriptions should always be opt-in. Honestly, I think that should be legally enforced.
Like, seriously: 9.5 times out of 10, when I receive a newsletter, I just sigh because now I have to waste time checking the email, finding the unsubscribe link, and going through whatever unsubscribe page they decided to build.
And what is even more ridiculous is when the unsubscribe link requires me to log in first. Not even auto-login from the link. Just: “please log in to adjust your notification settings.” At that point, I usually just block the sender.
Some only ask for confirmation, which is mildly annoying. If someone visits the unsubscribe link, the chance they did it accidentally is tiny. And they are almost always going to show a resubscribe button anyway, so save me a click.
Recently I came across the most hostile ones. Two, actually.
One straight-up sent me newsletters with no unsubscribe option. What the hell?
The other technically had an unsubscribe option, but required me to call their hotline.
And that one is even more upsetting because it is one of my banks. I cannot just block the sender unless I want to risk missing actual financial emails.
Like. Oh my god.
