According to Huntstark on Reddit a new PlayStation 4 message glitch is going around causing PS4 crashing, resetting or rebuilding the database leading many to factory resetting their consoles and re-installing all the games. 
He states the following warning, to quote: "Even deleting the message from the mobile app doesn't work. It happened to me during Rainbow Six: Siege.
A player from the other team used a dummy account to send the message and crashed my entire team. We all have had to factory reset. Only one of our guys wasn't affected and he has his messages private."
ThatPissedOffDude adds, "the solution is to remove the message through the PS Messaging App. Nothing else needed" while Vilens40 shared additional details to prevent this from happening, as follows:
"It is also advised you delete or unfriend anyone you know who might deliberately indulge in this message chain and soft-lock your console."
If anyone here experiences this PlayStation 4 soft-lock / soft-bricking issue, feel free to share your feedback in the comments below!
To quote: We've since fixed the issue, and it wasn't bricking consoles, just sending them into a crash loop that can be quickly fixed in under 5 minutes. Delete the message on the PS mobile app, go into Safe Mode, use Option 5, console back to normal. ^DB
He states the following warning, to quote: "Even deleting the message from the mobile app doesn't work. It happened to me during Rainbow Six: Siege.
A player from the other team used a dummy account to send the message and crashed my entire team. We all have had to factory reset. Only one of our guys wasn't affected and he has his messages private."
ThatPissedOffDude adds, "the solution is to remove the message through the PS Messaging App. Nothing else needed" while Vilens40 shared additional details to prevent this from happening, as follows:
- Go to Settings > Account Management > Privacy Settings > Enter your password > Personal Info | Messaging, and set Messages to either Friends (if you trust them) or No One.
"It is also advised you delete or unfriend anyone you know who might deliberately indulge in this message chain and soft-lock your console."
If anyone here experiences this PlayStation 4 soft-lock / soft-bricking issue, feel free to share your feedback in the comments below!
To quote: We've since fixed the issue, and it wasn't bricking consoles, just sending them into a crash loop that can be quickly fixed in under 5 minutes. Delete the message on the PS mobile app, go into Safe Mode, use Option 5, console back to normal. ^DB
