# Contacts with a 'blank' subscription status

Engaging with non-subscribers (customers who have neither explicitly opted-in or opted-out) requires an understanding of channel-specific compliance and ethical marketing practices.

If a contact's subscription status for a particular channel is 'blank', this means the contact has neither subscribed nor unsubscribed from receiving marketing messages on that channel.

You can send them messages on that channel, but you should [exercise caution when contacting them](https://docs.bird.com/applications/audience/contacts/concepts/consent-and-subscriptions/opt-ins-consent-and-subscription-statuses/broken-reference).

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**Email and WhatsApp**

You can send [Emails](https://docs.bird.com/applications/audience/contacts/concepts/consent-and-subscriptions/opt-ins-consent-and-subscription-statuses/broken-reference) and [WhatsApp](https://docs.bird.com/applications/audience/contacts/concepts/consent-and-subscriptions/opt-ins-consent-and-subscription-statuses/broken-reference) messages to customers with a 'blank' subscription status as long as you comply with local laws and regulations.
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**SMS sending restriction**

You can only send [SMS](https://docs.bird.com/applications/audience/contacts/concepts/consent-and-subscriptions/opt-ins-consent-and-subscription-statuses/broken-reference) messages to customers who have actively subscribed by providing express consent. SMS messages sent to contacts with an SMS subscription status of 'Unsubscribed' or 'Blank' will not be delivered.
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