Is WhatsApp a privacy advocate or a screenshot snitch, alerting users when you capture their stories, chats, or ‘view once’ messages? Unlike platforms like Snapchat and Instagram, which can notify users if their content is screenshot, WhatsApp does not send notifications for screenshots, allowing you to view content discreetly.

Once a simple messaging app, WhatsApp has evolved into a multifunctional platform with features like stories, business accounts, broadcast channels, and payments. With this expanded functionality, privacy concerns have increased, making it essential to safeguard your personal information. Although WhatsApp’s privacy policy aims to protect you from malicious activities, the responsibility for virtual security largely falls on you. So, let’s explore whether WhatsApp notifies users when you take screenshots of their messages, profile pictures, or status updates.

Figure 1. WhatsApp Screenshot Notifications: Key Privacy Insights

WhatsApp Screenshot Notification Guide: Everything You Need to Know

Does WhatsApp Notify Users About Screenshots of Chats?

This is one of the most common questions about WhatsApp screenshots. The answer is no: WhatsApp does not notify or alert users when you take a screenshot of their conversation. [1] Similarly, Instagram and Facebook also don’t send notifications for screenshots of messages, unless disappearing messages are enabled. Since the disappearing messages feature is not available on WhatsApp, you don’t need to worry about notifications for screenshots. Figure 1 shows WhatsApp Screenshot Notifications: Key Privacy Insights.

Does WhatsApp Notify Users About Screenshots of Statuses or Stories?

If you’re worried about mistakenly taking a screenshot of someone’s WhatsApp status, you can relax—WhatsApp does not notify users of such actions. Unlike Snapchat, which alerts users about screenshots, and Instagram, which notifies users when someone screenshots or screen-records their DMs, WhatsApp does not provide this feature.

However, WhatsApp does display a list of who has viewed your status. If you suspect someone has taken a screenshot and shared it, you can review your viewers list to identify potential culprits.

Does WhatsApp Notify Users About Screenshots of Profile Pictures?

Once again, users will not be notified if someone views or screenshots their WhatsApp profile or profile picture. This policy is consistent across WhatsApp and other Meta apps like Facebook and Instagram, as well as Snapchat—none of these platforms send alerts for profile screenshots.

Use WhatsApp’s ‘view once’ feature to prevent users from taking screenshots of your photos

To prevent users from screenshotting photos or other media sent in chat, you should use WhatsApp’s ‘view once’ feature, which blocks screenshots. Since WhatsApp does not notify users of screenshots, this feature is your best option for protecting your photos and videos.[2] If someone attempts to take a screenshot of a ‘view once’ message, WhatsApp will block the action and display a ‘Screen capture blocked’ pop-up, indicating that the screenshot cannot be taken.

However, this method doesn’t guarantee complete security. Users might use third-party apps to bypass WhatsApp’s privacy measures or capture the sensitive ‘view once’ messages with another device. Therefore, it's always wise to exercise caution to avoid potential issues.

References:

1. https://www.augustman.com/in/gear/tech/does-whatsapp-send-screenshot-notification-of-story-chat-status-or-profile-picture/
2. https://www.lifestyleasia.com/ind/tech/does-whatsapp-send-screenshot-notification-of-story-chat-status-or-profile-picture/

Cite this article:

Janani R (2024), WhatsApp Screenshot Notifications: A Comprehensive Guide to This Privacy Concern, AnaTechmaz, pp. 181