Now, iOS 12 is sending iMessages to the wrong contacts
What's the story
Apple's all-new iOS 12 promises a better user-experience and some really interesting features, but ever since it started rolling out, people have encountered a major problem - one that critically affects their privacy. The update, as many pointed out, is merging chats from different contacts, leading to texts inadvertently being sent to the wrong person. Here are the finer details.
Hidden feature
Many hidden features, including one to improve iMessage
When iOS started rolling out, Apple detailed its main features and left the minor ones to be discovered, including an iMessage capability that unified chat threads of contacts using more than one email or number. The feature was intended to make iMessage cleaner, but now, it is merging chats from different individuals, leading to a much bigger problem.
The problem
Here's how the users are being affected
While it is not hard to imagine how big a confusion merging of two chat threads could create, people have reported several instances of texts going to the wrong person, like a message for husband going to son and vice versa. On Apple's Support Community, hundreds of users have reported and upvoted on the issue to find a way to get rid of it.
Twitter Post
Many reported the problem on Twitter too
@AppleSupport iOS 12 sucks. Our text messages are all screwed up. My sons are coming through as my husband and vice versa. My mom texts me and it goes to my husband or sons phone. Also we see each other’s phone call history. WTH is going on?!
— sabrina98ucf (@sabrina98ucf) September 30, 2018
Common Apple ID
The case of Apple ID sharing
Apple hasn't issued an official answer, but the problem appears more common in immediate family relations sharing Apple ID. This indicates iOS 12 is considering Apple ID as the basis for determining individuality for merging contacts. In other words, if multiple users - with different contacts and numbers - are on the same ID, it will consider them as a single contact.
Possible workaround
Workaround still not clear
Setting up a separate Apple ID for each member could be the solution, but some users have reported the fix isn't working for already-merged chats. There's no way to unmerge the threads. Also, not many users are comfortable with setting up individual Apple IDs, as that would affect how they made Apple Store purchases. Hopefully, Apple notices the glitch and issues an immediate fix.