I know that text wasn't meant for me. What do I do?

[Camarynne]

I just got a (non-offensive) text message that I know was meant for my stepdaughter's boyfriend, not me. Just a sweet "Love you" which isn't our style but is something she would text to him. Do I let her know or (my embarrassed preference) just pretend it didn't happen?

My name is right next to his in her phone's address book, so I can see how it happened.

[Judah]

I would let her know so that she can be more careful next time.  You never know when she might decide to text something really embarrassing.

[kandikrisp]

I accidentally did this once with my recent ex and my aunt. I sent it to her instead of him. It was really simple, "I will, Baby. **Snuggles**", but it wasn't exactly something I'd say to my aunt, iether.

She responded with a, "Will what?" and I turned about 10 shades of red. It was a pretty big joke at Christmas.

On the flipside, though, if she doesn't realize that you got it instead of him, she may get upset at the lack of answer, and if it's an ongoing conversation, the flipside may happen too. (Depending on their ages and the length of their relationship and everything.)

Maybe just let her know to resend that text to him, somehow?

[Surianne]

Yes, I'd let her know, for both reasons: so she doesn't send something more embarrassing, and in case she's hurt that he doesn't respond.

[MyFamily]

But do it matter-of-factly - depending on her age, you don't want her to be embarrassed.

[Rivaini]

I would just text back "I love you too."  

Then she'll know he didn't get the message, but possibly avoid some embarrassment?

[Midnight Kitty]

I would just text back "I love you too."  

Then she'll know he didn't get the message, but possibly avoid some embarrassment?

Parking my POD right here

[Ceallach]

I would reply.

Ten years ago my then BF and I were texting each other late at night.   Eventually he stopped replying so I went to sleep. Turns out, he thinks I'm the one who stopped replying, as he never received my last message.  To this day I wonder where on earth that text message ended up......  I asked the people on either side of his name in my address book but they said they didn't receive it.  I suspect it went to my piano teacher who also starts with the same letter, but was too embarassed to ask - I was about to move cities so was never seeing her again anyway.  But I still wonder.

[Surianne]

I would just text back "I love you too."  

Then she'll know he didn't get the message, but possibly avoid some embarrassment?

Nice!  I agree.

[Mahdoumi]

I would just text back "I love you too."  

Then she'll know he didn't get the message, but possibly avoid some embarrassment?

Parking my POD right here

POD to the second power.

[SoCalVal]

I once received two explicit pics from a young woman I didn't know at around 1:30 in the morning.  After receiving the first one, I replied that she sent to the wrong phone.  Guess she didn't get the text right away because I received a 2nd one.  After the 2nd pic, I received a text mssg from her that said, "Delete them."  I let her know she sent to the wrong person because a) I figured she'd wonder why the other person never responded and b) I really didn't want to receive such crap on my phone.  She was probably embarrassed, but I was a stranger so I'd think it was far less embarrassing than if she'd sent to someone she knew.

[Mahdoumi]

Well, you certainly know her NOW!!!!!

[Ereine]

I once received a text that was clearly meant for parents who had children involved in some activity and the message was about some arrangements for their summer camp or something like that. It seemed important so I texted back that it was sent to the wrong number and received a very polite and grateful text back thanking me for going to the trouble of letting them know.

I think that if I sent "I love you" text to the wrong person and got back "I love you too" I would be extremely horribly embarrassed and would have trouble seeing the person again, because I would assume that they thought that I meant the message for them. But then I'm too easily embarrassed. 

[Rivaini]

I think that if I sent "I love you" text to the wrong person and got back "I love you too" I would be extremely horribly embarrassed and would have trouble seeing the person again, because I would assume that they thought that I meant the message for them. But then I'm too easily embarrassed. 

Even if it was a close relative that you do love?  My suggestion was based on the fact that this wasn't a text between mere acquaintances.  

[Dandy Andy's Daddy's Love]

I think that if I sent "I love you" text to the wrong person and got back "I love you too" I would be extremely horribly embarrassed and would have trouble seeing the person again, because I would assume that they thought that I meant the message for them. But then I'm too easily embarrassed. 

Even if it was a close relative that you do love?  My suggestion was based on the fact that this wasn't a text between mere acquaintances.  

I don't think it matters. Yes, texting is less formal than most correspondence, but the same etiquette still applies. If you received a letter in the mail that was addressed to someone else, would you respond as if it was addressed to you, or would you return it to the post office with "wrong address" written on it?