Gray box whilst typing in Facebook on iPhone

https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/03/06/gray-box-facebook/

“Tracy Clayton, a spokesperson for Facebook's parent company, Meta, said the gray boxes were "the result of a bug in a version of Facebook for iOS that was introduced on March 1."

"A fix has been submitted to the App Store and should be going out in the coming days," Clayton said. "No sense yet on how widely this is occurring." “

First of all, Apple doesn't participate in this user to user only forum. So you won't see any response from Apple here.

Secondly, why would you expect Apple to have any response about an App they don't own, nor one they have ANY control over and can't fix. Facebook would sue Apple if Apple attempted to fix Meta's buggy Facebook app.

Thirdly, Meta has already made a statement about their app and acknowledges they need to fix it. In fact Meta released an update a couple days ago, which may have already fixed their app. Have you updated to the latest Facebook app?

So no, you won't be getting a statement from Apple about this here or anywhere else.

Did you tell Facebook? Also, did you update the Facebook app, which was updates last week and many have suggested it fixed this? Whether you continue to use the Facebook app really doesn't matter to anyone but you. It's not, if you took the time read this thread (guessing you didn't since you replied to the first post) you'd know this is a Facebook/Meta issue, not an Apple or iPhone issue.

jbk4322 wrote:

Thanks to the person that responded with the correction for the gray box problem! I updated my Facebook, Insta, & messenger app (everything Meta). It worked!

Thank you😊

Great Job! It is refreshing to have a user read the posts and actually follow the recommendations provided for a successful solution.

Apple has nothing to do with updating Meta Apps and Meta had even acknowledged that it was a problem from an update that they introduced, yet I am sure we will still see posts here claiming that Apple is doing it. I do understand that Meta has terrible customer support and no forum like this for their users to share any issues, so that just leaves them to come here and make the false claim that it is an Apple problem.

Tappyballerina wrote:

It’s a new censorship tool Facebook is utilizing.

Nope. It's a total inability to read the thread you just posted to, where the solution has been posted. But if you prefer to believe conspiracy theories, knock yourself out! Or just update your Facebook app. Your choice.

I can’t recall the users name that I replied to last week (I think I replied) but they commented saying something about a certain ‘key’ on the left side of the keyboard must have been tapped for that to happen, something like that I believe. And ya know, ever since I read and/or replied to that comment, that gray box has not appeared since.

So strange

ritturiam wrote:

So what is the solution for the gray box when typing/commenting on FB or elsewhere????

If you read past the first post as you should have, the solution is Meta, the parent company of Facebook, released an update to fix this a couple weeks ago. Update the app.

pdidit wrote:

WHATS GOING ON? IM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE - just started today March 7th… is this a virus ? Facebook attack or what?

I understand that Meta has poor customer service, so users of their apps have to look for other channels for a resolution, but it is not Apple that will be able to solve a Meta problem. That would include for any app from Meta, such as Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, or Instagram.

The frequency of updates to address bug fixes for those apps should be a clue. Solving one problem by creating 2 more is the trademark of all Meta updates. Ironically, you are the bug tester, yet they have no Support Forum for their users to discuss the issues. Just look at the number of updates in just the last Month for these apps and that should tell you there is a problem.

• Facebook - 11 times
• WhatsApp - 10 times
• Instagram - 9 times
• Messenger - 10 times

You could:

• Contact Meta
• Wait for them to update the Facebook
• Quit using Facebook in the meantime.

It is not an Apple problem so it cannot be resolved by Apple, as they cannot update apps for Meta. For the reason why it happens in the first place, that is also something only Meta could tell you.

this is happening when texting on my iPhone, texting on my iPad and now when I comment on FB posts.

Read my comment again. Has nothing to do with FB

I have an iPhone XR and it’s happening!

No one is asking Apple to correct something on Facebook! I can only speak for myself and I just felt asking others here if they experienced this phenomenon. I NEVER ASKED APPLE TO Fix IT!

I thought it was only me. I deleted the app and reinstalled. Same thing. Tonight I was answering someone on FB and I said I was a Democrat. Once I entered Democrat, the grey box popped up.

Yes, but appears again while typing?