Why iPhone Takes Your Picture Every 5 Seconds

Recently, iPhone users have become afraid that the front facing camera might be taking photos of them every five seconds. As seen in these types of videos.

But is iPhone actually taking your photo? And if so, why?

Well, it’s true that the infrared camera activates about every five seconds and shoots out 30,000 invisible dots. This isn’t the phone taking a photo per say, but it is checking to see what’s in front of it.

[bokogonk]

"We noticed you are not watching this ad. Please keep your face pointed at the screen and your eyes open for the ad to finish playing."

[tapejara]

"Its not taking a photo its just taking an image of your face every 5 seconds" ok thanks bre

[BulborbStan]

This explains a lot about iPhone battery life.

[keyraminus]

So it's not taking a picture, it's actually watching/checking your face? How is that LESS scary?

[SalveRegina]

Step 1: get nearest roll of tape
Step 2: tear off piece
Step 3: put over camera

[ronijarvinen]

I imagine ad companies also don't take any photos, just mapping data. And not of your face, just what's in front of the phone. Not for their purposes of course, just to make sure your screen brightness is good. So friendly and helpful companies going all the way for our comfort.

[mercuriallimit]

Imagine the phone checks our facial expression and use that to analyze our reactions to posts we see on social medias

[TomlinsTE]

Don't worry all of the incredibly invasive features are for your convenience.

[garypinholster]

"Not even apple has access to it" press x to doubt.

[Jake-btfc]

Just imagine how good the battery life would be if the phone wasn't constantly doing 1 million unnecessary things in the background.

[CareLessWasTaken]

I thought everyone knew it was the infrared camera 😂

[Zaphod]

I don't care what you say, I'm going to blind my kids' webcams. Even Zuckerberg puts black tape on his camera.

[HinaCabina]

Wow! Both me and my FBI agent watching learned something new !😮

[ironspider]

there is a small mistake in the video. the infrared light being flashed onto your face every 5 seconds is *not* the 30000 dots emitted by the dot projector. its actually just plain infrared light flashed by the flood illuminator.
the dot projector is only used for 3d mapping features like face id. attention awareness features don't make use of the dot projector.

[starplayzreadbio]

"Why iPhone Takes Your Picture Every 5 Seconds"
Me: iPhone Takes Your Picture Every 5 Seconds??

[tezy]

"no one, not even apple has access to it" .. yeah sure xD

[lkzwai]

not worries TikTok stole you data, but worries about apple😂

[i_never_asked_for_an_alias]

"Why are you punching my face, bro !"
"I don't punch you, i am just probing your facial features with my fist to check how you feel."

[hitmanzzz]

I assume the only people who actually thought this was true were all tiktok users 😂

[nyb]

I'm wondering if checking it as often as 5 seconds might be the result of "screen distance" warning enabled?