You are not alone if you have ever cursed when your favorite song ends in the middle of a chorus as you are about to give a message the thumbs up. Pop sensation Justin Bieber has publicly criticized Apple for that little, common annoyance.
Bieber criticized iMessage’s dictation feature on Instagram, calling it a clunky UI annoyance that ruins the transition between typing and listening. Though tongue-in-cheek, his colorful warning to “hunt everyone at Apple and put them in a rear-naked choke hold” captures a real complaint that many iPhone owners are familiar with.
The button for sticky dictation
Bieber’s feud is straightforward and well-known. He claims that the dictation symbol is too near to the transmit button, making it simple to unintentionally activate. He claims that his music has been halting mid-playback due to that one mis-tap, disrupting both conversation and creative urge. He clarified on Instagram that even turning off dictation is insufficient since the voice note control and transmit button are still located in a small space that encourages errors. He expressed the annoyance of anybody who has lost their rhythm due to a rogue tap by writing, “The transmit button should not have several purposes in the same area.”
The complaint is ironic. The ability to multitask is a selling feature for modern smartphones, but little UI annoyances like this one make the experience seem fragile. The little design decision is more than just a hassle for a musician who is often switching between songs, direct messages, and social media updates. It is a practical irritation that leads to interrupted listening sessions and lost momentum. Although Bieber’s dramatic threat to “choke” Apple employees seems like Hollywood exaggeration, it has brought attention to how a single UI feature may negatively impact a user’s whole experience.
Justin Bieber has already complained about the peculiarities of iMessage’s interface. The musician has previously complained about his music stalling each time he attempts to send a message on Instagram Stories long before his most recent post. He then said, “I am sick of it,” and asked Apple to reconsider where the dictation button was located so people could “listen to music and text and not have troubles.”
The cause is iOS 26
The most recent software update for Apple customers, iOS 26, shows that the annoyance has not subsided. The fundamental issue still exists despite Apple’s most recent software upgrades, which promise smarter features and better performance. The transmit and dictation buttons are still awkwardly near to one another, making it much too simple to press the incorrect one.
That little design error is more than just an annoyance for someone like Bieber, who is often switching between streaming, messaging, and publishing online; it throws off his rhythm. Unintentionally turning on voice notes or dictation disrupts entertainment and conversation, undercutting the smooth multitasking that iPhones take pleasure in.
Even while his comment about the “rear-naked choke grip” was made with comedic exaggeration, it does convey a broader annoyance among users. The layout of iMessage is a common complaint among iPhone users. It is possible that Bieber’s public criticism will increase the general annoyance to the point where Apple pays attention. The business may be forced to eventually reconsider its message interface, making regular texting a bit less annoying for everyone, if the protests get loud enough.
