The latest iPhone prank making the rounds online is nastier than usual, instead of tricking people into doing something embarrassing, it’s getting them to destroy their phones, according to a report on Austin 360.
iPhone prank: Update iOS 7
A fake announcement, which is meant to look like it comes from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), tells users that the latest update for iOS 7 will make their phones waterproof and encourages them to try it out. It also says that the waterproofing is now a part of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s warranty policy, making people feel like there is little risk to trying out the latest feature.
“A smart-switch will shut off the phone’s power supply and corresponding components to prevent damage to your iPhone’s delicate circuitry,” the ad says. Unfortunately, water stays in the phone for a long time after it gets dunked in water, and it takes a very small amount to short circuit your phone. Anyone whose phone has been submerged in water (hopefully not intentionally) should give it a few days to completely dry out before turning it on again.
iPhone prank lead to ruining phones
When the ad hit Twitter, many people retweeted it to take part in the prank, and a few people admitted to putting their iPhones to the test and ruining them in the process. Warnings about the prank were also spread through social media, too late for some especially trusting souls.
Other popular pranks that have been just as ridiculous, if less destructive, rely on people having a weak understanding of how their phones work. As technology becomes both more complex and ubiquitous, the divide between people who know what a phone (or some other gadget) might reasonably do and those who treat them as magical boxes will only grow. For a device that can measure the difference between air pressure at your head and your feet, or tell your exact location anywhere in the world, withstanding a rain puddle doesn’t seem that miraculous.
Either people will have to become more technically savvy, or silly pranks like this will fool more of us as time goes on. In the meantime we can all enjoy a bit of schadenfreude.
