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Only the continued efforts of dedicated Gmail users to hit the "Report as Spam" button when they spot unwanted junk messages will help Google stay ahead of spammers.

Three Reasons To Report Gmail Spam

That button clicking has an impact, even though the typical Gmail user can't see the whole behind the scenes effects.

Google's Brad Taylor discussed spam reporting on the Gmail blog. He cited three good reasons to keep on flagging spam.

Doing so helps improve Gmail for the individual user. Taylor said Google tracks spammers that get through, as well as non-spammers who mistakenly get caught in the filters and need to be reported as "Not Spam."

Each report also enhances the Gmail experience throughout its network for all users. Spammers sometimes copy what other spammers do in pushing out their messages. If Google can stop spam with a certain set of characteristics, it becomes easier to catch future attempts using the same vectors.

When spam does get through Gmail's filters, Taylor and other engineers see this as corresponding spam reports rise to match the incoming junk. Sometimes it takes longer to code a solution to a particularly nasty spam outbreak, and Taylor emphasized people should keep making those reports.

For those keeping score at home, it's 1) help yourself, 2) help other Gmail users, and 3) help Google by making spam reports.