If you’ve ever noticed a tiny orange dot in the top corner of your iPhone screen, you’ve probably wondered what it symbolizes. This strange dot, which appears to be innocuous but is actually quite concerning, has perplexed and alarmed many users.
`The rumor mill has produced tales about this dot being an indication that someone is secretly listening in on your talks, sending shivers down your spine and prompting concern. However, the truth is not as ominous as the misconceptions spreading on social media would have you assume.
With the release of iOS 14, Apple added these colored indicators as a security feature. The orange dot indicates that an app is now using your iPhone’s microphone. Similarly, its green equivalent denotes an app that uses either the camera or both the camera and microphone functions.
When to Worry (And When Not To)
Contrary to popular belief, the presence of an orange dot does not necessarily indicate that someone is listening in on your talks. Instead, it merely refers to a program that uses the microphone. It could be a social media site or chat app that needs access to the microphone to function properly.
If the orange dot makes you anxious, you may control app permissions on your iPhone. Go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, and finally Microphone. From there, you can select which apps can access your microphone and withdraw permissions for those you are unhappy with.
Managing iPhone’s Orange Dot
When that tiny orange dot appears, here’s how you can take control of your iPhone’s privacy:
Step 1: Investigate the culprit
Swipe down from the upper right corner of your screen to reach the Command Center. If an app recently used your microphone, a notification will show on top. Tap it to reveal the app responsible for the dot.
Step 2: Take Control in the Settings
If you locate an app to which you are uncomfortable providing microphone access, it is time to change. Navigate to iPhone Settings, then Privacy, then finally Microphone. You can evaluate which apps have requested access to your microphone and adjust permissions accordingly.
Step 3: Adjusting the Accessibility Settings
For individuals who find the orange dot bothersome or confusing, there is an option to change its look to a square. Navigate to Settings, select Accessibility, and then Display & Text Size. To transform the orange dot into a square shape, toggle on “Differentiate Without Color”.
Extra iPhone Measures for Peace of Mind
Remember, it’s not just about the orange dot; it’s about being comfortable with how your apps use your device’s functionality. If you’re concerned about camera access, the green dot, or general app permissions, repeat the procedures in Privacy settings to control access to your camera and other features.
Ultimately, your iPhone gives you control over app permissions. You have the authority to authorize or refuse access to any data gathering device, including the microphone and camera.
The presence of an orange dot on your iPhone is not reason for alarm. With an understanding of its significance and the ability to change app permissions, you can confidently traverse your device’s privacy landscape.
Understanding the orange dot’s purpose allows you to make more educated decisions about your privacy settings. It is not a hint of impending danger, but rather a warning that an app is accessing your microphone. By remaining aware and maintaining your app permissions, you can maintain control over your iPhone’s privacy and use it confidently.
An Elderly Woman Is Turned Away from Business Class until a Little Boy’s Photo Slips Out of Her Purse
A poor old woman decided to fly business class to get closer to her son. However, she faced rejection from passengers on board until they discovered her true identity.
Rhea felt self-conscious. The old woman had gotten on the first plane to leave the airport that morning, and she sat in a seat in business class where the well-to-do folks stayed.
As she entered the cabin, nobody spared her a glance, but when she located her seat and sat, eyes turned towards her. The reason was simple; she stood out like a sore thumb.
Where the other men and women present all wore fancy and expensive-looking clothes, Rhea wore her old, broken-in clothes — it was her best, but it looked drab compared to what the others were wearing.
The man next to her had his face completely buried in a newspaper when she sat down, so he did not quickly notice her. When he put down the issue, he looked to his side and winced at her appearance, then he signaled a flight attendant.
“What is this?” he asked, pointing to Rhea.
The flight attendant looked a bit mortified at the man’s tone, but after verifying the woman’s seat number, she faced the man and replied, “This passenger took a seat according to the ticket she paid for.”
The man looked like he would vomit at any minute because of Rhea’s presence, and before he even proceeded to talk, he unfolded a pristine handkerchief and used it to cover his nose. Then he said, “I don’t know what’s on her ticket, but I bought a seat in business class to get away from people like her, now it just feels like I’m in a cheap alley with homeless people.”
The altercation had gotten the attention of many in the cabin, and some seemed to be in support of the man. One plump woman bedecked from her head to her feet in jewelry piped up.
“If I wanted to fly with such riff-raff, I would buy an economy class ticket,” she said, and a murmur of agreement moved through the passengers.
The murmur quickly took on a life of its own and soon led to a squabble the attendant tried to quell, but the rich folks would not hear of it — the woman had to go.
“Can’t you see she doesn’t belong here?” one man said.
“Is this how low this airline has fallen? How can such a person afford the bill?” another asked.
“We want her gone and we want a formal apology for allowing us to come into contact with such filth,” the man beside Rhea said.
He and a few other passengers were on their feet and refused to sit until they got what they wanted. Rhea sat there, listening to them arguing and trampling all over her dignity.
“I’m okay, this too shall pass,” she kept repeating under her breath like a mantra.
Still, she heard how they spoke of her, and it hurt her very deeply that people could be so cruel. Before she knew it, sad tears cascaded down her slightly wrinkled cheeks.
“Perhaps I’ll just leave,” Rhea thought, then started to gather her things with shaky hands.
As she stood up to go, she stumbled, and rather than catch her as instinct should have made him, the man beside her flinched away as if to avoid getting splattered with mud.
Rhea fell to her knees and inadvertently spilled the contents of her purse. She started to collect her things with trembling hands, knowing she was the focus of everyone in the cabin.
An expensively dressed old lady who had been sleeping peacefully until the ruckus woke her got up from her seat and also went down on her knees to help Rhea.
At that, the cabin went silent, and the passengers stared dumbfounded as one of them treated Rhea like a human. The first thing the woman picked up was a passport photograph of a little boy.
“Thank you very much,” Rhea whispered as she collected it from her.
“This is my son,” she said with a teary smile, still on her knees. “He is the pilot of this plane.”
“He must have grown up to become a handsome young man,” the rich old woman said.
“How could I know? I had to give him up for adoption when he was just five because I had no means to take care of him.” As she spoke, tears fell from her eyes, and the cabin remained silent.
“I’ve been looking for him for years but I’ve not been able to find him. Recently, I found out he became a pilot so I started to go from airport to airport looking for him. Today I found him but the only way I could get close to him was by boarding this flight.”
Rhea looked up at the people around, most of whom averted their eyes shamefully, then she continued.
“I’m sorry for making you all feel uncomfortable but I just wanted to be as close to my son as possible which is why I saved up my money to get this chance. The business class is closer to him and I’ve never flown before so I thought it would make a great birthday gift for myself.”
The passengers listened to her story, and by the time she stopped talking, many were crying. Rhea got up eventually and went with the flight attendants, who were hell-bent on introducing her to her son.
“What if he doesn’t want to see me?” she asked, resisting their urging. “What if he hates me for abandoning him?” Before the flight attendant could speak, the man who had been against her sitting beside him beat her to it.
“You had no choice, I believe he will understand that,” he said before quickly diving behind his newspaper again. He was also ashamed. Rhea left with the flight attendant to finally meet her son.
After some time, a man’s voice was heard on the plane. “This is the captain speaking… there is a special person flying on this plane — my mom, and it’s her birthday today.”
Everyone applauded the old lady, and those who had ridiculed her before apologized for their mistake. When the plane landed, the pilot, whose name was Joseph, met up with his mother, and finally, after many years of estrangement, Rhea held her son again.
What did we learn from this story?
Choose to be kind. When the man beside Rhea started to clamor for her to leave the cabin, others joined in, and even though the woman had done nothing, they may have succeeded in making her leave. The only person who did not do what they did was another old woman. She stood up for Rhea even though she could easily have just joined the haughty passengers, and her decision changed everything.
Never give up. Rhea looked for her son for years but could not locate him; however, that did not stop her. She kept looking, and she was ready to do anything to meet him, including saving up her hard-earned money for an expensive business class flight. Her perseverance and sacrifices were rewarded in the end, and she was able to meet him.
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