Will Apple’s iOS 18 Make It Easier to Cheat in Relationships?
Privacy Upgrade or Lothario’s Dream? Social Media Reacts to Apple's Latest Feature…
Apple’s iOS 18, launching this autumn, is already stirring the pot with its new privacy features. The standout? The ability to lock and hide apps from your home screen.
Apple’s official line is, "Users can now lock an app; and for additional privacy, they can hide an app, moving it to a locked, hidden apps folder." They further explain that when an app is locked or hidden, its content—like messages or emails—stays invisible in search, notifications, and elsewhere across the system.
Will Apple’s iOS 18 Protect Privacy or Encourage Infidelity?
Apps you decide to hide will nestle in a folder marked 'Hidden,' accessible only via Face ID. Apple claims this will give users peace of mind that their sensitive information won’t be seen accidentally. The company suggests it’s perfect for keeping banking apps secure or preventing children from racking up charges on Amazon.
However, social media has blown up with a different take. Many see this feature as a dream come true for those looking to cheat on their partners. Comments on X (formerly Twitter) range from incredulous to amused. One user quipped, "Whoever is coming up with these updates at Apple is cheating on their spouse because what is this????" Another chimed in, "Apple just made cheating so much easier."
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Posts flooded in, with some labeling the update as “sick,” while others celebrated the ability to hide dating apps from prying eyes. One user joked, "Some exec at Apple probably got caught cheating and pushed this as a necessary feature."
This new feature means you can obscure the icon and name of any app on the Home Screen, effectively pausing notifications. This applies to all apps, whether they’re for social media or dating. Only the ‘Hidden App’ folder in the App Library gives away that a user may be keeping secrets.
The ‘Hidden Folder’ Has Sparked Controversy
Users can also lock built-in apps like Mail, Messages, Notes, Phone, Photos, and Safari, all unlockable only with Face ID. Apple reiterated, "Locked and hidden apps offer users peace of mind that information they want to keep private will not inadvertently be seen by others."
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While some users hailed the update as a long-awaited feature, many critics dubbed it a cheater's paradise. One X user bluntly shared, "Thanks Apple. I will be trying to hide online dating app from my wife."
With the feature set to potentially complicate relationships, it’s worth noting that 40% of Americans recently admited to using dating apps while in serious relationships. Despite the controversy, iOS 18 packs in many other exciting updates. (We made a list of 21 must-try features coming soon which you can read here.)