WhatsApp Screenshot Notifications: Everything To Know About This Privacy Concern

Is WhatsApp a screenshot snitch, bailing out on you if you screenshot someone else’s stories, chats or ‘view once’ messages? While platforms like Snapchat, and even Instagram can get you ‘caught in the act’ while getting hold of someone’s information, WhatsApp is a trusted friend which doesn’t really send any screenshot notification, fulfilling all your low-key stalking endeavours. Here’s everything to know about WhatsApp’s notification policies for screenshots.

What once was purely a messaging platform, has catapulted into much more. From WhatsApp stories, business accounts, broadcast channels and even payments, you can navigate everything on the app. However, with more exposure comes more privacy concerns, which is why it’s pertinent to keep your personal life and information private. While WhatsApp’s privacy policy ensures you’re safeguarded against any malicious activity, the onus to protect yourself virtually lies on, you. With that, let’s dig into whether WhatsApp notifies you about screenshots of your messages, profile picture, and status updates.

Whatsapp screenshot notification guide: All you should know

Does WhatsApp send notifications about chat screenshots?

This is probably the most raised query regarding WhatsApp screenshots. The answer is no, WhatsApp doesn’t notify or alert the user when you take a screenshot of their conversation. Even Instagram and Facebook don’t alert users when a screenshot of their messages is taken unless someone has turned on disappearing messages. Since the disappearing messages feature hasn’t rolled out for WhatsApp yet, you don’t have to worry.

Does WhatsApp send notifications about status/ story screenshots?

If you’re panicking after mistakenly screenshotting someone’s WhatsApp status, breathe a sigh of relief as they will not be notified of your actions. WhatsApp doesn’t alert users if anyone screenshots their status/ story, unlike other platforms like Snapchat. Even Instagram alerts users when someone screenshots or screen-records their photos/ videos sent via DMs.

However, WhatsApp does show story views to all users. So if you suspect someone has screenshotted your story and floated it around, you can always go back to check your viewers list to find your suspect.

Does WhatsApp send notifications about profile picture screenshots?

Again, there’s no way users will know who viewed or screenshotted their WhatsApp profile or profile picture. Not only WhatsApp but fellow Meta apps like Facebook, Instagram or even Snapchat also don’t send out any alerts when someone screenshots their profile.

Prevent users from screenshotting your photos using WhatsApp’s ‘view once’ feature

For those wanting to prevent people from screenshotting the photos or any media sent on chat, you must activate the ‘view once’ feature that blocks screenshots. Since WhatsApp doesn’t send any screenshot notification, this particular feature is your best bet at safeguarding your photos/ videos. If someone tries to screenshot the ‘view once’ message, WhatsApp will block the action and display a ‘Screen capture blocked’ pop-up which details that you can’t proceed with the intended action.

However, even this doesn’t guarantee 100% security. People might install third-party apps to break WhatsApp’s privacy or take a picture of the sensitive ‘view once’ messages using another device. So, it’s always better to steer clear of any possible mishap.

Hope this guide answers all your WhatsApp screenshot notification queries.

(Hero image credit: Rawpixel/ Freepik)

(Feature image credit: Freepik)

This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong