In the digital age where trust is already under siege, a new, unlikely player has entered the infidelity scene — the iPhone Notes app.
Traditionally a tool for shopping lists, journaling, or jotting down to-do reminders, the humble Notes app is now at the center of a growing trend: secret affairs.
According to social media revelations and insights from private investigators, iPhone users are increasingly exploiting the app’s real-time collaboration feature to carry out clandestine romantic communications all while avoiding detection.
The trend exploded after going viral on TikTok, where users began sharing suspicious discoveries and red flags linked to the app.
In one of the most widely circulated videos, licensed private investigator Cassie Crofts explained how cheaters have cleverly repurposed the Notes app.
“This is the iPhone hack that cheaters are obsessed with,” Crofts said in a video reposted by the Daily Mail.
“A lot of people worry about secret messaging apps or calculators that hide secret photos, but what a lot of people are using these days is much simpler and much harder to spot. It’s the humble Notes app.”
The secret lies in the “collaborate” function. iPhone users can share a note with another person via Apple ID or phone number, enabling both parties to type and edit messages in real-time effectively using the note as a hidden chatroom.
With no push notifications and the appearance of a simple note, the trick is both subtle and effective.
“Think about it,” Crofts added, “the suspicious partner is probably going to check your text messages, maybe even hop on Messenger, but are they going to remember to go and check the Notes app?”
The viral post sparked a flurry of online confessions.
One TikTok user recounted how a friend was caught after leaving the shared Note open on his laptop.
Another admitted, “Yes, I’ve done it, and you can lock Notes with a custom password so even if someone gets your phone, they can’t unlock the note.”
What makes the Notes app so attractive to cheaters? Experts and tech-savvy users point to three key reasons:
•Low suspicion: Unlike apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, Notes is considered harmless and rarely monitored.
•Hidden in plain sight: Notes can be buried in folders and won’t show up in the usual “last opened apps” view.
•Easy to erase: Deleting a note instantly removes the chat history, leaving no digital footprint behind.
While Apple has not commented on the trend, some relationship experts are urging couples to maintain open communication and perhaps, a touch of tech awareness.
In an era where secrets are only a swipe away, it seems even the most innocent apps can be weaponized in the war of hearts.
