My Child Hid iPhone Text Messages With a Secret ‘Invisible Message’ Trick

A CONCERNED parent discovered their child was sending ‘hidden’ text messages.

These so-called “invisible” messages are actually built into every device iPhone – but they are easy to miss.

The iMessage feature allows you to send hidden text messagesCredit: The American Sun/Apple

The feature is a standard part of iOS if you use the standard Messages app.

In a Reddit post, a parent wrote: “My child found a way to hide texts.”

They shared a screenshot of the Messages app showing several texts hidden with a mysterious message fade.

Several Apple fans quickly responded to the post, revealing that it is an official iPhone feature called Invisible Ink.

HOW TO SEND INVISIBLE TEXT

Invisible Ink is one of Apple’s message effects, found only in a hidden menu.

When you receive an Invisible Ink message, it is blurry and cannot be read.

The only way to view it is to swipe or tap parts of it.

It’s a great trick because it can stop “shoulder surfers.” reading your messages if so next one to you.

The feature is also a fun way to send surprises to friends family.

And it’s very useful if you’re discussing a TV show or movie in a group chat and want to talk about spoilers.

To send an Invisible Ink message, first go to an iMessage chat.

Importantly, it doesn’t work on SMS, so make sure you’re texting someone who also has iMessage.

Type a message that you want to send as invisible ink, but don’t press Send.

Instead, hold your finger on the Send button to reveal a hidden menu.

Now choose the option on the right called Invisible Ink and then press Send.

This message will fade out and only appear when you tap it.

For a very long message, you’ll need to tap or drag different parts of the message to view the full text.

You can also tap and hold the message to view it.

Of course, your Messages app is packed with tips and tricks.

One of the best is the ability to send special effects just by using specific phrases.

Try sending:

These all have their own special effects that appear on the recipient’s phone when the text is opened.

Here are some of the best…

Type cursor – Press and hold the spacebar while typing to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, making it easier to move through words and sentences
Close all Safari tabs – To do this in one go, simply hold the overlapping squares in the bottom right corner and press Close All Tabs
Delete many photos quickly – Press and hold a photo and drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select many images at once. Then press Delete
Exchange currencies quickly – Swipe down from the top of your home screen, then tap the bar and type a currency (e.g. €200) and it will automatically convert to your local currency
Check if you need a battery upgrade – Batteries in smartphones deteriorate over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Status and view the maximum capacity. In general, a battery is considered worn out if its capacity is less than 80%. If you are below, you can purchase a battery change from Apple
Move apps faster – Hold an app until it starts to wiggle, then tap (while still holding) other apps, which will stack them so you can move them around more easily