The ‘Discoverable by Others’ switch is on by default. Here’s what it does—and why it isn’t as scary as it sounds.
Last year’s release of IOS 17.2 included a new app, Journal. It for what it sounds like, writing your thoughts. You can include pictures, maps, and other things to make it more useful and inviting. The data is kept locally so you can write innermost private thoughts. Biometrics are available for sign-on for privacy. The app can make suggestions based on recent music, places visited or photos you’ve taken This is not shared to Apple.
By default, a setting “Discoverable By Others” is on*. You might wonder what this is all about. Some social media site suggested that it might let your contacts know that you are around and journal what you are doing together. Ms Stern contacted Apple who replied that sharing your name and location was inaccurate. With Bluetooth, your phone can detect devices nearby that are in your contacts and use this as context for journaling suggestions.
“The spokeswoman said this is done so users get this benefit, regardless of whether their friends and people around them are using the Journal app or not. Basically, Apple knows this new app isn’t likely to be used by the masses right away, so it turned on this service to give its earliest users a journaling boost.” You may want to leave this feature on or turn it off if you don’t want to be included among local contacts.
From an article by Joanna Stern in the Wall Street Journal, February 2024
*Settings > Privacy & Security > Journaling Suggestions, you’ll see that Discoverable by Others is enabled by default. Toggle on or off is your choice.
Personal note: I like the Journal app and hope it is added to iPadOS and MacOS soon. If you are feeling like talking, it’s not easy to type on your phone. I could dictate, but I prefer typing.