Recently this week many students have discovered the iPhone text messaging “bug.” Many students have found a way for iPhone users’ phones to be shut down by sending an encrypted message containing Chinese characters and the phrase “effective. Power.”

According to CNN.com, “A text consisting of a particular string of characters, revealed on Reddit late Tuesday, exploits an inability of the messaging app’s preview feature to correctly render the characters, which are not the standard alphanumerics or emoticons one typically texts.”

Where this hack was found is unclear, but Apple is doing their best to try and resolve the issue.

CNN.com also states, “Apple wrote on its support site, under the heading ‘If Messages quits unexpectedly after you get a text with a specific string of characters,’ that the company ‘is aware of an iMessage issue caused by a specific series of unicode characters.’ The post said Apple will make a fix available in a software update.”

Until the problem is solved by Apple, there are a few things one can do to prevent the problems from arising and not have to block any contacts. First thing to try is asking Siri to “read unread messages.”

Also, use Siri to reply to the message. After the reply, the phone will be able to open Messages again. Lastly, in Messages, swipe left to delete the entire conversation, or tap and hold the message, tap “more,” and delete the message from the conversation.

If all fails and the phone continues to have problems, the last thing to do is block the people who send the messages and do a quick reset of the phone.

Lastly, hold the home button with the power button as if one was taking a screenshot. Hold them in for a few seconds and an apple should appear. This signals that the phone has closed down all the apps and refreshed its system. All the contacts, photos, and apps will remain on the phone.

A national day created by GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) was created on behalf of a fight against LGBT victims. Many students around the country, and even the world, have dedicated themselves to support this cause.

As a right of all students in the country, many stand up in the fight against bullying. A specific type of bullying is dedicated to April 17 as the national Day of Silence.

According to dayofsilence.org, “GLSEN’s Day of Silence is a national day of action in which students across the country vow to take a form of silence to call attention to the silencing effect of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in schools.

Many students at SMFHS have already taken this vow to be silent. They will carry a card that explains to everyone around them that they are participating.

According to nctsn.org, “The Day of Silence is a student effort to protest harassment, discrimination and hate. Participating students, led by GLSEN, will hand out cards that read the following: ‘Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence, a national youth movement protesting the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies in schools. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by harassment, prejudice and discrimination. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward fighting these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today. What are you going to do to end the silence?'”

Although many people have seen the effects of bullying towards LGBT victims, not many students rise to support them. This day was created for students who have went through troubles based on their opinions and sexual orientation.

According to dayofsilence.org this specific day was originally founded in 1996, and, “the Day of Silence has become the largest single student-led action towards creating safer schools for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.”

For the fight against bullying towards LGBT students register or learn more now about the cause and visit dayofsilence.org.

Photo Source: dayofsilence.org