Did I Un-Waterproof My Phone? (Earpiece Slot Covering)

[tmann202]

A while back I cleaned the dust out from the earpiece slot with a paper clip, and now I notice that there is a slit in the thin plastic that covers it and I can see behind it a little.

Was this always like this, or was this part of the waterproofing (or dust cover) and I cut it, making it no longer waterproof?

 

[acejavelin]

It is part of the water-proofing, the part for the earpiece/speaker (obviously). I would do my best to keep it from getting wet if I were you.