BuddyPress.org

I am trying to edit an error message that appears when a user tries logging in before they are activated. I found the code in the /buddypress/bp-members/bp-members-functions.php file:

function bp_core_signup_disable_inactive( $user = null, $username = '', $password ='' ) {
	
	.... code ....

	return new WP_Error( 'bp_account_not_activated', __( '<strong>ERROR</strong>: Your account has not been activated. Check your email for the activation link.', 'buddypress' );
}
add_filter( 'authenticate', 'bp_core_signup_disable_inactive', 30, 3 );

I tried copying that into my functions.php file and editing it:

function my_new_message( $user = null, $username = '', $password ='' ) {
	return new WP_Error( 'bp_account_not_activated', __( '<strong>ERROR</strong>: My custom message.', 'buddypress' );
}
add_filter( 'authenticate', 'my_new_message', 30, 3 );

I also tried function my_new_message() { ... }

While this changed the message, I wasn’t able to log in whatsoever even though I was approved/activated. Is there a step I am missing or some way to fix this?