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Google explains why searching 'the1975..com' shows you your texts

The company is rolling out a fix for the bug over the next few days, so have fun with the strange feature while you can.

Abrar Al-Heeti Technology Reporter
Abrar Al-Heeti is a technology reporter for CNET, with an interest in phones, streaming, internet trends, entertainment, pop culture and digital accessibility. She's also worked for CNET's video, culture and news teams. She graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Though Illinois is home, she now loves San Francisco -- steep inclines and all.
Expertise Abrar has spent her career at CNET analyzing tech trends while also writing news, reviews and commentaries across mobile, streaming and online culture. Credentials
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Abrar Al-Heeti
Mobile Device Applications for Android

That weird "the1975..com" bug will soon disappear. 

Getty Images

Google says a "language detection bug" led to that weird feature that shows Android users their recent personal texts when typing "the1975..com" in the Google app.

Reddit user discovered the glitch earlier this week after typing "the1975..com" in the search bar on the default Google Pixel launcher. Owners of other Android devices made by OnePlus, Samsung, LG and Huawei reported seeing the same thing. Some people noted that typing "vizela viagens" into the Google search bar also showed their recent texts.

"We are aware of a language detection bug in the Google Search app for Android which erroneously interpreted certain phrases as a request to view recent text messages," a Google representative said. "A fix for this bug has been implemented and will roll out over the next few days."

You can normally call up a summary of your texts by asking Google to "show me my text messages" in the search bar. Also, you're only able to see your texts this way (both with the glitch and intentionally) if you give the Google app permission to access your messages.