iPhone users have recently discovered a “scary” feature that asks them to “communicate” with ex-lovers and deceased relatives.
Check In, released in Apple’s iOS 17 in 2023, is a messaging and location tracking service that allows users to notify contacts when they have arrived at a destination.
However, the feature makes suggestions for who users should alert, and the recommendations have left people baffled.
Users have shared these strange experiences on social media: One woman said she received a message alerting her deceased mother, and another was sent a notification with her ex-husband’s name: they divorced four years ago. HA HA HA!
A TikToker recently shared a video about the feature after being repeatedly asked to speak to his boss. The clip received thousands of comments from other users who experienced the same thing, but some saw their ex-lover or dead relative as a suggestion.
Apple launched Check In last year, but users reported only seeing Siri suggestions in recent months.
Siri Suggestions are personalized recommendations for what you might want to do next, based on how you use your Apple devices and apps.
A TikToker named Jayfreezing posted a video asking if anyone knows why they’ve been seeing the alerts recently.
“Lately, my iPhone, or Siri, has been sending me a suggestion to contact someone,” he said in the clip.
‘For some reason, the person who is always suggested is my boss. I receive this alert to let you know when I have arrived at my destination.
He went on to explain that when the alert is clicked, it automatically creates a text message that appears to share my location with someone.
“I thought it was a fluke, but it’s happened at least eight times now,” he said.
TikTok has received thousands of comments from other people who have experienced the same notifications.
“Not only is it annoying, it’s very scary and intrusive that some algorithm is solving and testing relationships of any kind,” one user shared.
But another TikToker called MsTiner wrote: ‘My mom passed away in February. We used to text each other daily. Now, every few months, I get a reminder to talk to Mom. I wish I could!’
While the notification may be a good reminder for her, others are being bombarded with prompts to text their exes.
Danielle commented: ‘Suggest I text my ex-husband. We have been divorced for 4 years. I don’t want to text this man, never leave me alone.
While the suggestion may be understandable to some users, one Redditor shared that they are being alerted to contact their friend who lives far away.
“My phone recently started suggesting that I send a check to a particular friend of mine for whatever reason,” they posted on Reddit.
Apple released Check In with its iOS 17 last year, but iPhone users reported receiving notifications recently.
Some users have called the feature “scary” and “intrusive” because the algorithm is analyzing people’s relationships with contacts.
‘Sometimes he randomly suggests this when I leave the house or when I order an Uber home.
‘While I appreciate this feature because I’m sure it’s useful to some people, why did you start suggesting this and why did this friend in particular?’ We don’t even live on the same continent.
Apple has kept tight control over how the algorithm makes suggestions and how users can turn off the feature, only explaining what it does.
“Messages introduces Check In, an important feature for when a user wants to notify a family member or friend that they have arrived at their destination safely,” Apple explained.
‘After a user initiates a Check In, their friend or family member will be automatically notified as soon as the user arrives.
“If they do not proceed toward their destination, useful information will be temporarily shared with the selected contact, such as the device’s location, battery level, and cellular service status.”
The tech giant has also noted that any information shared is end-to-end encrypted, so only you and your family members will be able to see when it has arrived at its destination.
Apple has kept tight control over how the algorithm makes suggestions and how users can disable the feature.