Whatsapp is acknowledged for its highly secured end-to-end encrypted chats and privacy. This way, no third party (instead of you two) will ever eavesdrop on your conversation. But does Whatsapp provides a security check for screenshots? Will it notify you when someone screenshots your chat, profile pictures, videos, or status?
Let us dig further to take into account your privacy with WhatsApp’s screenshot policy and how it reacts when you get screenshotted.
Does WhatsApp notify users about screenshots?
Unfortunately, Whatsapp does not notify users about screenshots. You can screenshot conversations, images, videos, disappearing messages, and even “View Once” messages. The other person does not get informed through a notification within the chats. Although, WhatsApp does not leak or publicize your conversations or images itself. It does not provide a security feature to notify you when others do too.
Secure communication is supposed to be between two people. Perhaps, it can be screenshotted and sent to many more (positively or negatively) without your consent and awareness.
Undoubtedly, it is a threat to users’ privacy and security. Still, users can do nothing to have more secure access to WhatsApp. But one thing to note, if you do this to someone, it can happen to you too.
Does Whatsapp Notify When You Screenshot
Whatsapp claims to have a secure conversation with your loved ones. Let’s see if it really notify you when you screenshot:-
a Story
No, WhatsApp does not notify you when you screenshot a person’s story. You would never tell if the shared status is safe or circulating to a third person you may not know.
For a secure WhatsApp story, WhatsApp allows you to set a “Status Privacy.” This way, it will appear only to the selected people you want.
a One-time Picture
Fortunately, one-time pictures or View once images can count to provide a protected sharing of photos or videos. The receiver can just open the picture or video for once. It can not be screenshotted, saved, shared, or does not appear in their gallery.
However, it is only valid if the receiver uses the updated Whatsapp. If not, they can eventually try to screenshot and save the media. One-time pictures are accessible for 14 days before opening for the first time. If the time is over, the image will automatically expire and not open.
a Conversation
Whatsapp never notifies its users when someone screenshots your private chat. Therefore, you can never detect if someone is circulating your private conversations with other people.
However, it reported that WhatsApp would make a few more feature advancements. This way, the conversations between two people will remain private, and neither can screenshot to breach privacy.
a Profile Picture
It is bewildering that Whatsapp does not alert you through a text message or notification if someone screenshots your Whatsapp profile picture. But let you decide who can see your profile picture.
It is a prevalent option where users can choose their viewers. A WhatsApp user can show his profile to everyone, contact members, contacts except, or nobody.
Does Whatsapp Notify When You Screenshot or Record a Video Call?
No, WhatsApp neither has any feature nor notify you when you screenshot or record WhatsApp video calls. If the other person has an iPhone, he can use the available screen recorder feature to save your face-time. However, Android versions do not provide such features. They have to download a third-party application to record a face-call.
Users can not directly detect any recording or screenshot. However, they can read a few instructions to judge if they are being recorded:-
(a) A recorder in hands:
- When a person is holding a recorder (phone or camera) on a video call, don’t hesitate to seek a justification. There is a high probability that they are recording the private video call without your consent.
- Immediately, ask them to stop the recording (if you don’t agree to record it) or disconnect the call.
(b) The beep sound:
- Usually, whenever you start a video recording, you hear a “beep” sound.
- Through this, You can detect that the other person is recording you.
(c) The way they talk!
- It depends from person to person, but you can consciously guess something suspicious through their talk or responses.
- They can interrogate you or seek clarification on specific topics. Beware if something happens.
How do other apps notify users about screenshots?
WhatsApp provides end-to-end encrypted privacy to its users but is not accountable for informing screenshots. It is a rare feature that only limited apps provide. Let’s see how other apps notify their users about screenshots:-
(a) Facebook:- Like WhatsApp, Facebook does not notify users about screenshots. However, you can enable the profile guard feature to equip a shield to your image. It does not let users screenshot or download the profile image. Still, you can capture them through another device, yet they’ll never get notified.
(b) Twitter:- Twitter is a social platform where people can connect. Therefore, Twitter allows screenshots and downloading of images and videos. Further, the other person never gets a notification or text alert on getting screenshots.
(c) Hinge:- Like most other apps, Hinge never involves notifying the person about getting screenshotted. You can screenshot images, chats, and profile pictures without any restrictions. The other person won’t get informed through any means. However, it is necessary to seek permission before screen recording or screenshotting.
(d) Instagram:- Instagram provides a slight difference when providing a secure platform. You can capture an image directly from the camera within the chats and send it to the next person.
If the receiver screenshots, you will receive a notification as “screenshot you.” Also, if you go back to the chats, you will notice spirals beside the screenshotted photos.
However, it does not apply to the photos linked via the gallery. They can capture these images, reels, and videos without your information.
(e) Snapchat:- Snapchat is among the few platforms that inform their users in case of a privacy breach. Snapchat notifies a screenshot alert if a video or image is screenshotted. It types in a text as “You took a screenshot” in capturing a chat. But if you screenshot a Snapchat story, it will appear in the user’s viewer list with a screenshot icon!
Therefore, screenshotting on Snapchat requires a clever brain. However, seek the user’s permission first and disallow an unlawful activity.
(f) BeReal:- BeReal is known to provide the best privacy-driven features to its users. A BeReal user will get notified if someone screenshots their posts. On opening the BeReal app, the user sees a screenshot icon on the corner of the page.
Further, they can know who among their friends has screenshots of their posts. They can tap the screenshot icon and share it with an available app. By doing so, they will know who took the screenshot.
How to Know if Someone Takes a Screenshot on Whatsapp?
Although WhatsApp does not notify or provide you a feature to know if someone takes a screenshot on WhatsApp. Here are a few points to consider by which you can detect who might have screenshotted your images.
WhatsApp status
WhatsApp launched its status-uploading feature in 2017. It allows users to upload images, messages, and videos for their acquaintances on WhatsApp.
Now, you can even control the people who can see your uploaded status. If something negative happens, you can better point them to be accountable for the situation.
The options include:-
(a) My contact:- It is the least you can do to save your WhatsApp status. It is an option that allows posts to reach all your contacts. Usually, people who have saved your contact number can see your posted image or video.
(b) My contacts except:- This option allows your status to be visible to all the contact members except those selected by you. For this, a list of your contact will appear where you can tap the little circle on the right corner to exclude them. The marked member can’t see the posted images or videos.
(c) Only share with:- This option lets you decide which people you want your status to reach. Tap the little circles beside the contact name. These marked members are allowed to see your posted stuff! The rest will get unaware of your status’s existence!
Profile Picture
With advancements in privacy-driven features, users can decide whom they wish to be visible. It means that users can select who can see their profile photo. Users can choose among-
(a) Everyone:- Through “Everyone,” all can see your profile pictures. This way, your profile is visible to the people who have saved your numbers, whether you save them back or not. It is the least safe profile option as it is available to all who can misuse it too.
(b) My contacts:- This option allows the profile to be visible to your contacts only. All the contact members saved in your WhatsApp can see your profile.
(c) My contacts except- Now, you can filter the members from your contact list you trust the most. This option lets you decide the members who can see and cannot see your profile pictures. It is a more secure feature as you can only allow a few people to invade privacy.
(d) Nobody:- If you are tired of approving and disapproving people, you can tap nobody! This way, no one can see your profile pictures. The profile space will be vacant with a grey profile icon! However, your profile image won’t delete. Rather, it will be visible to the user only. You can change your profile settings anytime to get your profile picture back!
The Bottom Line
As of now, you might have understood that WhatsApp provides you with end-to-end encrypted conversations but does not inform of privacy breaches by screenshots.
Read this complete article as it has explained how WhatsApp and other social apps react when a user’s profile, images, posts, or status are screenshots. We have also mentioned a few ways to save your WhatsApp profile from others.
