I have good news for all iPhone users hoping to grab the latest iOS 18.3 update. It will not turn your device into one of Elon Musks lackeys, even if it does include support for T-Mobiles just-hit-beta Starlink satellite offering. Heres how this news came to be: Over the past two weeks, social media has expressed dismay over a report in Bloomberglast month that said Apple and SpaceX had been secretly working with T-Mobile to add support for the Starlink network in the latest version of iOS. Now, I dont have information to say whether the two companies are or arent collaborating. But I know the fear-mongering about installing iOS 18.3 and allowing Starlink access to your iPhone has been greatly exaggerated. The iOS 18.3 updatesupportsStarlinks new satellite connectivity offerings with T-Mobile.The carrier announced thebeta launch in a big Superbowl ad, and any smartphone on any mobile network can try it. T-Mobiles idea behind the beta is to convert you over as a new customer for its out-in-the-wilderness connection offerings, so it had to be available for every iPhone compatible with iOS 18.3. For now, this includes the iPhone 14 and up. The first complaints started on Apples support pages. Folks claimed they would ditch their iPhones if it meant acquiescing to Elons whims. I want nothing to do with Elon Musk [sic], wrote a user named noelonmuskplease. Its the number one voted comment on that thread. The world freaked out when Apple downloaded a U2 album onto everyones iPhones. Why is this not being publicized more? asked another user. Well, here you go. Im publicizing it for you. Another user on a different support forum page also asked if there was a way to block T-Mobile and Starlinks satellite network offering so as not to have the link on their device. Based on who owns Starlink and his attitude towards data privacy, I dont want to connect to Starlink in any circumstance, replied another user. Reddit went in on it, too.Then, a few users on TikTok went viral with the assertion that downloading the iOS 18.3 update would put Starlink in your pocket. They told people to hold off on updating devices until there was more information about what was to come. The comments are still going strong from people, likely less technically savvy than the weirdos here at Gizmodo, expressing relief over holding off on the update for fear of complying with Elons Starlink. I love tech sleuths on social media and often cite them in my work. But its a wild jump from receiving a standard, run-of-the-mill software update to being unable to sleep because an Elon-adjacent product has dumped code on your phone. But this is also a prime example of what happens when you live in a world where misinformation runs rampant and quickly gains traction because of the fear surrounding an idea. Right now, people are wary because of whats happening high up in the U.S. government with Trump, Musk, and the rest of the band of mayhem-men.What happened is this: people freaked out over the idea that their iPhones had a link to one of the most hated men on earth. We saw Tim Cook at Trumps inauguration. Weve seen how Silicon Valley recently cowedto the newest administration and how easily the biggest technology companies rolled back their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion due to political pressure. Unsurprisingly, users would think that Musk was coming for the iPhone. He went for the White House, didnt he?