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Justin Bieber’s iMessage Mic Complaint Spotlights Apple’s Messages UI Flaw

Apple has not commented on the widely shared complaint.

Overview

  • Bieber posted that the microphone control sits where the Send button appears, leading to accidental taps that trigger a beep, start recording, and pause his music.
  • He said disabling dictation does not help because the icon becomes a voice-note recorder in the same spot, which still interrupts audio playback.
  • His screenshot and remarks went viral, with Elon Musk reposting them and OpenAI’s head of design inviting Bieber to a design critique session as users echoed the grievance.
  • Reports describe how the Messages icon swaps between dictation, Send, and voice notes depending on context, a long-standing behavior many iPhone owners say causes mistakes.
  • Commentators proposed separating the Send and mic controls or adding settings to hide audio tools, while noting the criticism lands during a week of high-profile Apple leadership moves with no product change announced.