How Do You Know If Someone Has Taken A Screenshot Of Your ...

Taking a screenshot of a private chat without the other person’s knowledge is rude. But looking at some popular Facebook or Instagram posts, screenshots of funny/shameful conversations get all the likes. Being on the receiving end of this type of prank can be a terrifying experience.

unfortunately you I can’t tell if someone has taken a screenshot of your text. It’s better to use apps like Snapchat for added privacy. Unlike the iPhone’s screenshot notification feature, where the recipient is notified when a copy of your screen is captured, Apple hasn’t given any indication that the same feature will happen to its loyal users.

Table of Contents Screenshot Alerts in iMessages Screenshot Alerts on Instagram Read Receipts Snapchat Screenshot Notifications Screenshots on FaceTime Are There Any Good Third-Party Applications? What can you do? Underline

Let’s take a closer look at the brief history of this feature, which is not yet available on an iPhone.

Screenshot Alerts in iMessages

The first rumors that this feature might be available in iMessages started a few years ago during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco.

At that time, iOS 11 was in the pre-release stage and everyone was worried about getting their hands on the new software. The hype before the conference hinted at major software updates that would improve the user experience beyond making the OS prettier.

While rumors on social media spread like wildfire, Twitter was soon flooded with posts claiming that iOS 11 will include screenshot alerts in iMessages.

Judging by the number of likes and retweets on certain posts, people had fun even though they seemed to welcome the new feature. Before long, the rumor was accepted as true.

However, the reality was quite different. There was no evidence that Apple was planning to introduce iMessage screenshot alerts, code leaks or anything like that.

To date, iOS updates do not include these warnings, and it’s safe to assume that the feature won’t be available in the near future. All you can do is trust the apps.

Screenshot Alerts on Instagram

It’s no secret that Instagram is testing the screenshot notifications feature. But for now there are some limitations.

Considering the nature of text screenshot notifications, you can expect the option to pop up in Instagram DMs. But you’ll only get notifications for lost videos and photos. This means that Instagram doesn’t notify you about text message, feed or hashtag screenshots in DMs.

On the other hand, they briefly tested the feature for Instagram Stories in 2018. But after several months of testing, the option was removed. Many hope it will reappear with a future update.

Read Receipts

Among all iMessage capabilities, read receipts are one of the most important as it gives you the option to control your privacy or allow users to participate in your activities. Read receipts are great because they reduce anxiety and let another user know you replied.

Some may not like this option, and luckily Apple gives you the power to turn off your read receipts. To turn off your read receipts:

1. Go to ‘Settings’ on your iPhone
2. Tap on ‘Messages’
3. Change the ‘Send Read Receipts’ option from green to gray

Once this is done other users will not be able to see if your message has been read or not. They will still see your chat bubbles and the message delivered.

Snapchat Screenshot Notifications

Snapchat is currently the only app that offers text screenshot notifications to its users. Although there are various tricks people use to circumvent this feature, it is getting harder and harder to fool the system.

For those who have Snapchat push notifications enabled, the message “(user) took a screenshot” pops up instantly. You can also control these notifications by swiping right and accessing your chats.

On Snapchat, the screenshot icon is represented by two overlapping arrows right next to the contact. The time of the screenshot is also displayed. It can be the exact hour, day, or the number of days/weeks since it happened.

Screenshots on FaceTime

As mentioned earlier, if you’re using FaceTime, users will receive a notification that someone has taken their screen. If a photo is taken, a small, brief alert will appear on the receiver’s screen, but no screen recording will appear.

This feature was added in later updates and gives users a sense of control over unwanted invasions of trust.

Are There Any Good Third-Party Applications?

You may stumble upon a third-party app that promises screenshot notifications for Instagram and even iMessages. We recommend that you approach these applications very carefully.

Most of the apps available are shady if not outright scams. Both Apple and Instagram are very strict about the functionality that third-party developers are allowed to promote. As you know, text screenshot alerts are not in line with companies’ development policy.

What can you do?

For now, there’s no surefire way to tell if someone has taken a screenshot of your text. Therefore, the first line of defense is actually asking the other party to avoid taking a screenshot of a private chat and sharing it. If a text screenshot featuring you goes viral, you can always ask for it to be removed.

It’s best to be really careful with your online communications, especially if you regularly communicate with people who aren’t close to you. Sharing obscene messages or photos is out of the question because you can never be 100% sure they won’t fall into the wrong hands. The same applies to sensitive statements that can be used against you.

Underline

When all is said and done, you won’t know if someone took a screenshot of your text unless it shows up in your Facebook or Instagram feed.

On the bright side, you’re unlikely to gain much online fame even if the screenshot pops up online. A few of these posts go viral—many of them go unnoticed. In most cases, your personal information is blurred, allowing you to protect your privacy and reputation.

In the age of all things digital, it’s best to avoid posting any content online or via text that will later blame or embarrass you. Fortunately, smartphones still have a search feature for conversations you don’t want proof of. Even if Apple added this feature, there would be no way to undo the screenshot, you would know it was taken but you couldn’t do anything about it.