Experts warn against Gen Z's newest car 'hack'

"The car is not an entertainment platform, but a vehicle that requires focus and concentration to be driven safely."

Experts are shutting down another popular Gen Z trend which has gone wild on TikTok.

Gen Z-ers are going viral turning their Apple CarPlay pink.

However, what may seem like a harmless trend on the surface is ultimately being called an unnecessary distraction, which could result in trouble for young drivers.

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Image: TikTok / @hannahrrobertss, @paigemoyerrr.

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Is the aesthetic really worth it?

Gen Z-ers have been going viral on TikTok turning their Apple CarPlay screens pink.

According to Nationwide Vehicle Contracts, the trend has seen searches for ‘pink CarPlay’ skyrocket 1,061% globally over the past year and 177% over the past month.

Aussie creator @livingwithtay_ shared how to do it in a video just this week, accumulating over 150 000 views.

“You’re going to go into your settings, then you’re going to check that your appearance is on automatic. Go back [into setting], hit into wallpaper and select your colour of choice,” she explains.

“Then you go back, into accessibility, check to make sure your colour filter is on, then select Red/Green, and it will make the change for you.

“Is that not the cutest thing?”

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“This will become a critical issue”

However, while the screen may look more aesthetically pleasing, experts are saying that it might be more detrimental than you would think.

The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria’s (RACV) Head of Policy James Williams hoped to remind Gen Z-ers that a car’s factory settings are not to be messed with, putting drivers at risk of confusion and additional distraction.

“RACV does not recommend changing a car’s inbuilt display factory settings, including the colour scheme, as this could lead to increased driver distraction,” he told Kidspot.

“As infotainment systems become more complex and more functions are available to be used while driving, this will become a critical issue.

“RACV urges motorists to remember that the car is not an entertainment platform, but a vehicle that requires focus and concentration to be driven safely.”

A car’s colour filters and Red/Green settings are intended to be used by those who are colour blind, specifically where individuals cannot perceive red light.

This means specific settings may be altered in a way that would be difficult for those changing settings for aesthetic reasons to make out in an emergency situation.

Transport for NSW agreed with the sentiment, while noting that the exception would be changing your car's display to a less distracting colour where necessary.

"If the background on your car’s display is distracting – like a bright, flashy colour – drivers should change it to something that helps them stay focused," a spokesperson told Kidspot.

Don’t touch it!

RACV also reminded drivers that using distractions - like Apple CarPlay - while driving is also not recommended in general.

“In Victoria, new driver distraction rules were introduced in 2023 around use of mobile phones and other devices with the aim to reduce road trauma by addressing dangers of distracted driving,” James said.

“The principles underpinning the rules remain the same: don’t touch your unmounted or wearable device while you’re driving or riding.”

In some states, like New South Wales, using a mobile phone while driving is completely illegal for Learner, P1 and P2 drivers, whether it’s handheld, in a phone holder, or via Bluetooth - including Apple CarPlay.

According to Transport for NSW, if you are caught using your phone illegally, you may be fined $410 and receive 5 demerit points. This increases to $544 if the offence occurs in a school zone. During double demerit periods, the penalty increases to 10 demerit points for illegal mobile phone use.

Originally published as Experts warn against Gen Z's newest car 'hack'