Technology giant Apple is receiving a lot of criticism from users – especially corporate employees – for the default gesture-based response setting on its camera.
The reaction setting is activated when a hand gesture is made in view of the camera and then a 3D effect fills the video frame for a few seconds.
Possible reactions include balloons flying by, popping confetti, thumbs up and down, fireworks, floating hearts and lasers.
While these responses are intended to get laughs and help people express their emotions, many become embarrassed and increasingly frustrated when the responses appear unsolicited on the screen during serious video calls.
Technology giant Apple is receiving a lot of criticism from users – especially corporate employees – for the default gesture-based response setting on its camera
Possible reactions include flying balloons, popping confetti, thumbs up and down, fireworks, floating hearts and lasers
While these responses are intended to get laughs and help people express their emotions, many become embarrassed and increasingly frustrated when the responses appear unsolicited on the screen during serious video calls.
Alyssa Nolte, a 33-year-old consultant in Iowa, was in the office when a client sharing news of upcoming layoffs raised her hand and suddenly their screen filled with balloons.
‘We’re all thinking, “What just happened? Oh my god,’” she told the Wall Street Journal.
Dennis Perpetua, a 46-year-old Digital Workplace Experience Officer in New York, also shared his experience on LinkedIn, noting that thankfully his bosses were laughing too.
Perpetua was on a business visit with his boss in Zurich when a thumbs down emoji suddenly bubbled up next to his head.
He said: ‘We had a fairly serious conversation about strategy… and it came up. To be completely honest, I huffed a bit, which probably wasn’t a good move.
But luckily for him, his boss joined in and started laughing too.
Dennis Perpetua, a 46-year-old digital workplace experience officer in New York, was on a business call with his boss in Zurich when a thumbs down emoji suddenly bubbled up next to his head
He later wrote on LinkedIn, “FaceTime camera responses on Macs with M1 chips can make for awkward conversations with your boss! As intently as my eyes suggested I was listening, I underestimated my body language during the conversation.
“The only question now is: How did I get Microsoft Copilot to capture this happy accident?”
Zach Holmquist, co-founder of AI startup Seer, explained that the responses have caused chaos during calls with potential investors.
“We would have a very serious conversation about finances and pathways and all that stuff, and you activate confetti and balloons.
“I feel like balloons are the ones I activate all the time. It just becomes very awkward,” Holmquist told the WSJ.
But corporate employees aren’t the only ones who feel embarrassed during conversations.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman finally released confetti when he created the air quote symbol on screen during a Zoom interview on MSNBC last month
He did not comment on the incident during the video and continued the conversation
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman finally released confetti when he created the air quote symbol on screen during a Zoom interview on MSNBC last month.
He did not comment on the incident during the video and continued the conversation.
Jacquelyn Tenaglia, a 38-year-old mental health counselor in Boston, also had a similar experience.
During a virtual appointment, Tenaglia was resting her chin on the back of her hand when a thumbs down suddenly popped over her head.
She quickly had to apologize and say, “It was embarrassing to have that conversation. I consider myself someone with a great sense of humor, but I can say with certainty that this has been nothing but annoying.”
But it’s incredibly easy to disable this setting.
According to Apple, during a video call on a Mac system or an iPhone, users should select the Comments option from the video menu and then select Off.
For the gesture-based response setting to work, a user must have macOS Sonoma or later on a Mac with Apple Silicon or macOS Sonoma or later on a Mac with Continuity Camera with iPhone 12 or later.