Facebook users report black or grey box appearing when typing on iOS app

Update 07/03/25 – 09:19 am (IST): In an emailed statement to Snopes, a Meta spokesperson confirmed that the issue was “the result of a bug in a version of Facebook for iOS that was introduced on March 1.” However, they added that “a fix has been submitted to the App Store and should be going out in the coming days.”

Snopes even ran some tests and concluded that there was no evidence suggesting that anything was being censored, logged or flagged. As we mentioned, the problem simply seems to be due to a bug with the tagging feature. Moreover, if you’re still seeing the box, tap on the emoji keyboard icon and switch back. It should remove the box from view.

Update 06/03/25 – 10:50 am (IST): The glitch has now been fixed with the latest Facebook app update. So head over to the App Store and look out for Facebook version 503.0.0. Once the update is installed, you should be able to type in text fields normally without the weird box popping up. A few users have confirmed the same.

Original article published on March 5, 2025, follows:

Facebook users on iOS are running into a weird problem over the past few days. A black or grey box keeps popping up on their screens when they try to type comments in the app, and it’s driving people nuts. Some say it shows up every time they comment, while others only see it now and then.

One user took to Reddit to complain about the problem, stating, “I’ve been seeing a grey box intermittently appear on the right side while commenting on FB for the last couple of weeks. iPhone 16 (18.3.2). Anyone know the reason & post fix?” Another user chimed in with, “I just saw it for the first time today. Now it’s on every comment.” Reports like these are piling up online, showing it’s not just a one-off issue.

Here are a couple of screenshots shared by users on Reddit for reference:

People have been trying to figure out what’s causing this. Some think it’s tied to a recent app update that went wonky. One user suggested it might be a glitch with the tagging feature. They explained how the box seems to appear when Facebook thinks you’re trying to tag someone, even if you’re not.

Others aren’t so sure and worry it could be something more serious. I spotted a few comments from users wondering if it’s a privacy thing, like some kind of surveillance. Of course, that’s not even remotely true, so don’t be worried about it. Most agree it’s probably just a technical hiccup.

For now, there’s no official fix from Facebook. Some users have found a workaround, though. One user shared a tip, saying, “I find if you make the keyboard disappear that black box will go away and then you can hit the comment box and start typing again. It’s very annoying.” It’s not perfect, but it helps. The word is that Facebook knows about the glitch and is working on a solution. Users might see it sorted out in a future update. Until then, they’re stuck either trying the workaround or waiting it out.

This grey box mess is a hassle, no doubt. It’s got iOS users scratching their heads and hoping for a quick fix. For now, it’s just one more quirk in the world of social media.