Is it possible to hide a message thread on an Iphone 6S?

March 24, 2017 11:14 AM

I want to say naughty adult things to someone on my iPhone but my 11yo son uses it a lot to watch youtube videos and I don't want him to see it. I don't want to delete the message thread because I like reading it back. Is it possible to hide a single message thread in between comments?
posted by anonymous to Computers & Internet (11 answers total)

I'm thinking a cheap Android tablet for YouTube and a passcode on your phone is your safest way forward here.
posted by flabdablet at 11:19 AM on March 24, 2017 [19 favorites]

You should both download Signal. Not only does it encrypt your messages, but you can also set a separate passcode for the app. You can make it your default messaging app for both normal and encrypted SMS or just use it when needed.
posted by beyond_pink at 11:36 AM on March 24, 2017 [9 favorites]

Get an app that will keep pictures behind a password (one is named something like Briefcase) and take screenshots before deleting.
posted by soelo at 12:01 PM on March 24, 2017

Yeah, just use a messaging app that you can sign in and out of using a password, like Signal or Skype. Don't use Messages for these conversations.
posted by yawper at 12:12 PM on March 24, 2017 [3 favorites]

To answer your question directly: no, there's no way to temporarily hide a message in Apple's Messages app, only delete it. You can delete individual messages without affecting the entire conversation, though (tap and hold, select More..., then the trash can).

Using a separate app with its own passcode or thumbprint for this kind of thing is probably the way to go.
posted by Ryon at 12:24 PM on March 24, 2017 [1 favorite]

Maybe you can hide the icon for the message app deep within a folder, so he can't find it easily?
posted by hydra77 at 12:43 PM on March 24, 2017

One day you will get complacent and forget to log out.

I would suggest using an elaborate code: "For the new recipe, I want to simmer the peach, stuff it with figs, and smother it in creme Anglaise."

You could have a lot of fun with that.
posted by metaseeker at 12:46 PM on March 24, 2017 [8 favorites]

You should both download Signal. Not only does it encrypt your messages, but you can also set a separate passcode for the app.

The iOS version of Signal doesn't allow setting an app password, unfortunately.
posted by Lexica at 1:11 PM on March 24, 2017 [1 favorite]

wickr me is an app that is encrypted end to end messaging and IS password protectable from the app level (you open the app, it asks for a password, and you can set the amount of time you leave it unlocked, pretty sure.). works great. you can send pics. i believe the max expiration time for messages is 6 days, which would give you plenty of time to screen shot and upload to a dropbox account or something similar.
posted by koroshiya at 2:14 PM on March 24, 2017 [2 favorites]

There's also Guided Access on iPhone (used to be the last I checked) which you can use to set YouTube as the only app when you give the phone to your kid. There was Restrictions too. Not sure. Sorry, but haven't used iOS in a long time (irrelevant: though contemplating getting SE 32GB - it's perfect size and features and battery life)

Unlike Android I don't think iOS has features that can be used to lock individual apps so Signal may not be used the way others are suggesting. Or you can actually go for a cheap tablet or so.
posted by amar at 11:52 PM on March 24, 2017 [1 favorite]

Here's the instructions for using Restrictions on an iPhone/Pad/Pod.
posted by culfinglin at 3:34 PM on March 27, 2017