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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Photo AirDrop on train

52 replies

SpiderBrooch · 27/02/2023 22:46

On my usual commute into London last week and I kept getting a notification that someone was trying to send 2 photos via AirDrop. I have never experienced this before or since. The notification popped up about 10 times within a 15 / 20 minute journey, and I declined each time as I didn’t want some random photos on my phone (and was worried it would be dick pics). Is there a potentially innocent explanation? I found it strangely threatening and looked around the carriage but couldn’t see anyone looking at me for a reaction. AIBU?

OP posts:
redpinkyellow · 28/02/2023 09:50

I know someone who got one on a train and it was to tell him his headphones were to loud!

WinterMusings · 28/02/2023 09:52

redpinkyellow · 28/02/2023 09:50

I know someone who got one on a train and it was to tell him his headphones were to loud!

Bet that confused people not using any!!

Zola1 · 28/02/2023 09:54

A lot of teenagers do it as a joke...my daughter and her friends will often airdrop a photo of something silly, from a meme to a pic of their mcdonalds, to strangers.

maddy68 · 28/02/2023 09:57

My son is a DJ. And regularly uses airdrop to send his promo out on the tube works a treat

Emptycrackedcup · 28/02/2023 09:58

Gross, this seems quite intrusive!

Igenix4 · 28/02/2023 10:02

I sometimes get them when I'm on public transport, usually memes or pictures of cats, only ever had one bad experience of someone sharing a very graphic picture of a corpse, you can turn it off in settings so you don't receive anything

Ifailed · 28/02/2023 10:09

you can turn it off in settings so you don't receive anything

Can't help wondering why Apple did not make this something you opt into, they presumably wanted to make it on by default, but why?

MelonFarmer · 28/02/2023 10:15

maddy68 · 28/02/2023 09:57

My son is a DJ. And regularly uses airdrop to send his promo out on the tube works a treat

Not sure spamming commuters would be very conducive to drumming up business tbh
That would put me off using him if anything.

Regularsizedrudy · 28/02/2023 10:44

Ifailed · 28/02/2023 10:09

you can turn it off in settings so you don't receive anything

Can't help wondering why Apple did not make this something you opt into, they presumably wanted to make it on by default, but why?

I think it is, you have to turn it on and it can be really easily turned off or restricted

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 28/02/2023 12:07

MelonFarmer · 28/02/2023 10:15

Not sure spamming commuters would be very conducive to drumming up business tbh
That would put me off using him if anything.

Show quote history

You're obviously not the target audience, and what makes you think it's commuters? A DJ probably does it before going to a club to start his set. Or afterwards.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 28/02/2023 12:08

I have been known to airdrop a picture of this stupid taxidermied creature that I found years ago Blush.

rebecca100 · 28/02/2023 12:14

This happened on an easyJet flight, the photo was of a black bag with a message alluding to a bomb. Our flight was grounded for 3 hours as a result, nightmare but appreciated the thoroughness of the checks.

MelonFarmer · 28/02/2023 12:15

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 28/02/2023 12:07

You're obviously not the target audience, and what makes you think it's commuters? A DJ probably does it before going to a club to start his set. Or afterwards.

Show quote history

How do you know if I'm the target audience or not? You know nothing of me outside of a username.
Unsolicited advertising dropped to my phone would put me off using any service that did it, be that DJ or plumbing and at whatever time of day or night.

My Air Drop is off to anyone except for contacts. But on the odd occasion I have forgotten to turn it off after using it.

Cigarettesaftersex1 · 28/02/2023 12:31

MelonFarmer · 28/02/2023 12:15

How do you know if I'm the target audience or not? You know nothing of me outside of a username.
Unsolicited advertising dropped to my phone would put me off using any service that did it, be that DJ or plumbing and at whatever time of day or night.

My Air Drop is off to anyone except for contacts. But on the odd occasion I have forgotten to turn it off after using it.

Show quote history

Well I'm guessing people going to the guys set at a club would be his target audience. If you don't want unsolicited air drops then turn off the setting on your phone

MelonFarmer · 28/02/2023 12:44

Cigarettesaftersex1 · 28/02/2023 12:31

Well I'm guessing people going to the guys set at a club would be his target audience. If you don't want unsolicited air drops then turn off the setting on your phone

Show quote history

My Air Drop is off to anyone except for contacts. But on the odd occasion I have forgotten to turn it off after using it.

From my post which you quoted.

7eleven · 28/02/2023 12:51

I think it’s a twatish attempt to invade my personal space, rather than a teenage prank. It’s happened a couple of times on a train. I’ve just declined.

Cigarettesaftersex1 · 28/02/2023 12:52

MelonFarmer · 28/02/2023 12:44

My Air Drop is off to anyone except for contacts. But on the odd occasion I have forgotten to turn it off after using it.

From my post which you quoted.

Show quote history

OK, so what's the issue? If you forget to turn it off then I'd imagine some unsolicited stuff will get through 😐

BeetleyCarapace · 28/02/2023 12:56

Ifailed · 28/02/2023 10:09

you can turn it off in settings so you don't receive anything

Can't help wondering why Apple did not make this something you opt into, they presumably wanted to make it on by default, but why?

Most tech things are on by default. App notifications, cookie settings, 'opt out if you don't want to hear from us', etc etc.

I suppose it's the logical extension of everyone being listed in the phone book, unless they called BT and asked to be ex-directory.

MelonFarmer · 28/02/2023 12:59

Cigarettesaftersex1 · 28/02/2023 12:52

OK, so what's the issue? If you forget to turn it off then I'd imagine some unsolicited stuff will get through 😐

Show quote history

No issue at all. Just reply to your comment of

"If you don't want unsolicited air drops then turn off the setting on your phone"

As you seemed to miss where I'd posted that I did.

SerendipityJane · 28/02/2023 13:27

Pretty certain this was called bluejacking back in the day - a generation ago it seems.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluejacking

xogossipgirlxo · 28/02/2023 13:29

Apparently it's the thing teenagers do now.

GlacindaTheTroll · 28/02/2023 13:33

Any particular reason why you have not got your AirDrop set to at least "contacts only"?

Yes, could well be an ad - just like chugging, no matter how unwelcome many people find it, if it's bringing results overall it'll keep happening, and places like commuter trains are a good place to reach people in this way

SerendipityJane · 28/02/2023 13:35

xogossipgirlxo · 28/02/2023 13:29

Apparently it's the thing teenagers do now.

Like their parents did ... bless.

jizzlord · 28/02/2023 13:46

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 28/02/2023 12:08

I have been known to airdrop a picture of this stupid taxidermied creature that I found years ago Blush.

omfg this one? I wondered where it came from, I have been known to do it too 😂

Photo AirDrop on train
underneaththeash · 28/02/2023 14:05

The only time it's happened to me was in Disneyworld! I assumed it was something I didn't want to see and declined it.

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