Newly announced iPhone feature causes backlash after users warn it will 'increase street robberies'

Apple has announced a new feature in its latest iOS update which has caused concern around safety in some users.

The new feature is centred around how people pay for things, and adds in an extra ability for iPhone users.

Many people will be familiar with the awkwardness that comes with going on a night out or a big dinner, specifically the end when the bill arrives.

It gets to the end of the evening and everyone is figuring out how to settle up.

Eventually, one person just gets everything on their card and says everyone can pay them back.

Cue a long wait for money requests to be sent over and then finally responded to, as well as the inevitable strain when the question 'hey could you just send me for the other night...?' comes up.

Well, Apple's new feature aims to make this simpler by allowing users to send each other money by simply tapping their phones together to make the transfer.

The feature will allows users to tap their phones to send money. (Apple)

The feature could prove handy in the US, with people often relying on apps such as Venmo or Cash App to send each other funds.

That said, it's not clear how useful it will be in the rest of the world where instant online bank transfers are more prevalent.

But if you do live in the US and are fed up with using apps to send money straight away, this could help.

The description on Apple's website says: "Users get new ways to pay with Apple Pay, including the ability to redeem rewards and access instalments from their eligible credit or debit cards.

"With Tap to Cash, users can send and receive Apple Cash by simply holding two iPhone devices together."

To be clear, the feature is only usable with Apple Cash devices, so you would need to set up a card with Apple Cash to be able to use it.

Apple is announcing its new iOS. (Filip Radwanski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Given that Apple Cash is only available in the US, that means that this feature is only going to be available to users in the States.

Everyone else will just have to make do with instant transfers in their regular banking apps.

But there was one thing which had people concerned, and they took to social media to share their views.

One wrote: "Scamming gunna be so easy in a few years", while another joked: "Gunna be bumping into everyone on the street from now on."

Meanwhile a third commented: "New pickpocketing method just dropped."

One other person highlighted that the feature is only useful if you don't already have instant bank transfers, writing: "America will do everything except make decent mobile banking."

UNILAD has reached out to Apple for comment.