The color also refers to whether your messages are end to end encrypted, which is a big deal in messaging. Is the presence or absence of a padlock on browsers embarrassing? What if iMessage merely said “This message is not secured by encryption.”?
Apple iMessage
Message content limited. Subpoena: can render basic subscriber information. 18 USC §2703(d): can render 25 days of iMessage lookups and from a target number. Pen Register: no capability. *Search Warrant: can render backups of a target device; if target uses iCloud backup, the encryption keys should also be provided with content return can also acquire iMessages from iCloud returns if target has enabled Messages in iCloud.
It's not Apple's obligation to force Google to submit to Apple's encryption protocols, and it's not Apple's obligation to force SMS standards to comply with their standard.
Your concern was about bullying. Would it be better if Apple simply did away with the colors and notified you that "THIS MESSAGE IS UNENCRYPTED."?
second it's not apples obligation to force encryption, but if they really cared about your privacy it's as easy as releasing iMessage for Android.
Apple won't even talk about compatibility for Android so technically it is on Apple to offer a solution if they really cared
Third you brought up encryption not me
And if iMessages supported RCS, then messages to Android could be encrypted too, but Apple chooses not to support that.
Apple does provide an alternative way to use the iPhone for maximum security with a tradeoff in inconvenience which most would consider unacceptable. Google, Samsung, etc. offers nothing of the sort, and I do wonder whether phone vendors would ever be interested in investing in a feature which essentially destroys the convenience of using your phone.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32003756
The EFF considers Apple's messaging to be end-to-end encrypted. You could choose to not use iCloud, in which case the only practical way to obtain your messages would be to seize your phone. But since they are end-to-end encrypted, if an Apple employee were able to intercept and decrypt messages, then that would be big security news. If for whatever reason your concept of security is narrowly focused on resisting judicial warrants or state actors, then Android would only be worse here.
> And if iMessages supported RCS, then messages to Android could be encrypted too, but Apple chooses not to support that.
The RCS you mention is essentially Google's own standard, one which US carriers have chosen to reject. If Google could reach consensus with carriers and major phone vendors on a new standard, Apple would likely be forced to accept the new standard. Then RCS would become the true successor to SMS.
There are also other phone apps which use their own custom protocol. In some countries, WhatsApp is the most prominent messaging app.