With iOS 17.2 for iPhone, Apple launched its Journal app to help users record and reflect on everyday moments and experiences.
The Journal app prompts users to reflect on their experiences with personalized suggestions powered by machine learning, a subset of artificial intelligence. But one feature that has caught people’s attention is the ‘Visible to Others’ setting in the app which is enabled by default.
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According to Apple, Journal uses Bluetooth to “detect the number of devices and contacts around you” and “enhance or prioritize your suggestions.” Essentially, Apple wants to encourage you to capture a special moment when you’re out for dinner with friends or family or at an event. Since this discovery feature is turned on by default for all Journal users, you must manually disable it to turn it off.
How to disable Apple Journal’s ‘Visible to others’ setting
What you will need: iPhone with iOS 17.2 or later.
To find the Diary app setting, tap the Settings app on your iPhone.
Navigate to Privacy & Security within your Apple device’s Settings app. Tap it to access it.
Find journaling suggestions to access your journal’s privacy settings, including where you allow all journaling suggestions. Even if your journaling suggestions are turned off, the ‘Visible to others’ setting will be enabled until you deactivate it.
Turn off the ‘Visible to others’ setting in your privacy settings Suggestions for journaling.
Questions
Where is the Journal app on iOS 17?
The Journal app was released in December with iOS 17.2. It was automatically added to the iPhone with a software update, so it should have appeared on your iPhone’s home screen at that time. If you can’t find it, look for it in the list of installed apps on your iPhone. If you deleted it, you can download it again from the App Store.
What’s the problem with the iPhone Journal app?
There is no inherent privacy violation in how the Diary app for iPhone works. The app was announced as a feature of iOS 17 last year and has received positive attention as a new ‘true to you’ way to preserve your memories and capture experiences for memory or reflection.
The ‘Visible to others’ setting is enabled by default.
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
However, some people feel uneasy about an app that tracks who you’ve texted and what (for example, suggests adding snippets of conversations to a journal entry), tracks music you’ve been enjoying lately, or suggests new input when you’re out with friends.
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The ability to detect nearby devices aims to improve the experience by providing personalized suggestions based on your activities and interactions. Apple is adamant that this information is stored on the device and not shared with the company, and also says that it does not store which of your contacts are detected near you.
What if I’ve never used the Diary app?
Even if you’ve never used the iPhone Journal app, your ‘Visible to Others’ setting is enabled by default.
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This feature means that other nearby iPhones can potentially discover your device via Bluetooth and get suggestions on their phones to add an entry about a shared moment.
The ‘Discoverable by Others’ setting does not reveal or share personal information or log content with iPhone users. Instead, it works anonymously as an enhancement. If you don’t like this feature, you can turn it off and still use the Diary app.