Instagram Won't Let You Get Away with Taking Screenshots

Instagram won’t stand for screenshots of its disappearing photos and videos

By Saqib Shah November 28, 2016

instagram screenshot 24 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Instagram recently updated its app with a bunch of new features, including live video, and disappearing photos and videos. Like Instagram Stories, the latter feature was also borrowed from Snapchat and allowed users to share temporary images and videos with friends using Instagram’s direct messaging function.

It seems Instagram just can’t get enough of its rival visual media app, as it’s also gone and borrowed another element from Snapchat.

According to Instagram, it will notify you if someone takes a screenshot of your disappearing visual messages. As any avid Snapchat fan will tell you, that particular function has long been available on the app. This time, however, Instagram’s plagiarism may have been a product of necessity.

Unlike Stories, which can be viewed by your entire network (or even set to public), your disappearing content is generally only meant for the people you choose to send it to. Chances are you probably won’t take kindly to someone taking a screenshot of your temporary content in order to save it to their phone. Consequently, being alerted of a screenshot is essential in this scenario.

Back when Snapchat was viewed as little more than a naughty messaging app, the humble screenshot notification was its way of telling people that it was looking out for their privacy. Therefore, Instagram had to borrow the feature in order to ensure its users felt safe sharing their temporary content on its app.

Unexpectedly, the move ended up causing a bit of a stir when it was first revealed. A number of grief-stricken social media users were under the impression that Instagram would tell you when someone took a screenshot of your public content, reports Business Insider. The error seems to be Instagram’s fault, as its notification doesn’t clarify what was targeted in the screenshot.

Instagram is now telling people when you screenshot their stuff. pic.twitter.com/zBKNVAuSkJ

— Common White Girl (@CommonWhiteGirI) November 25, 2016

However, that’s not the case. The notification only applies to the disappearing content you send via Instagram Direct. Now that that’s cleared up, you can go back to goofing around on Instagram, and also safely take screenshots of public images — it’s OK, everyone does it.

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