Forget “orange is the new black.” Orange is the new warning sign that you need help!
A man on TikTok has gone viral for sharing a life-saving tip to iPhone users . If they see an orange dot appear at the top of their screen, by the wifi and battery signal, something terrible could be happening.
Here’s what it means.
This isn’t the first time an unassuming electronic has caused a scare.
Back in September 2021, a woman went viral for finding a Tile tracker in her purse after a night out. This small, Bluetooth-enabled device is used to find missing items by attaching them to the tile.
Thankfully, the woman, 28-year-old Sheridan Ellis, didn’t head home first.
When she found it, she also made sure to remove the battery right away. She shared the scary incident as a PSA for other women.
“I think it’s just smart for everyone to be aware. I wanted to share my story just so others can be aware—like a ‘keep in mind.’ Do women need to be on high alert?” she asked
“Sure, but I think that honestly, in this day and age, everyone needs to be to some extent.”
“I know for a fact that there was not a Tile in my purse before I left for the night and unfortunately, as the night went on, I ended up with a Tile in my purse,” she said.
“I know everyone is saying ‘hey girls, be careful!’ but unfortunately the reality is that this could happen to anyone!” she continued.
“A kid’s backpack, gym bag, purse, etc. This doesn’t mean we should live in fear, it just means we should be aware!”
So true!
iPhone users, this next PSA is for you.
TikToker Jamie Nyland went viral for his video on a new danger users need to look out for.
“If you see this orange dot on your phone, you need to get help seriously fast,” he claimed.
“If you see an orange dot like this on top of your iPhone, this means someone is listening to you,” he continued.
“It’s been all over the news, and in fact the orange dot is a warning sign from Apple that someone is using your microphone without your permission. ”
He continued:
“If you have no apps open and this is still there, then someone is spying on your phone and listening to your conversations. So if you see this orange dot, turn your phone off immediately and go and get help.”
The news left many people shaken.
“OMG I HAVE IT RIGHT NOW, WHAT SHOULD I DO?” one commented. “Omg I’m scared coz I saw that dot sometimes in my phone,” another wrote. “Seriously that explains a lot,” a third added.
However, many people debunked his claims by indicating that the light means something else.
“Just means your mic is live, not that someone is listening in,” one person wrote. “It just means the microphone is in use,” a second wrote.
“It doesn’t mean someone’s listening to you, it means there’s an app using your microphone or was using it recently,” a third added.
Apple has specified this information on their website. “An orange indicator means the microphone is being used by an app on your iPhone.”
You may have also seen a green dot.
This is “the camera or the camera and the microphone are being used by an app on your iPhone.”
So if no apps are open and you see the orange dot, then follow Jamie’s advice!
