You may have heard the rumors that keep circulating. Additionally, Instagram seems to recognize when you capture a photo, as it prompts you to share it instead. So, is it true, does Instagram tell a user when you capture one of their photos?
The answer to this question is a resounding no . Instagram does not share with anyone when you capture photos they post. It also doesn't even share when you capture an Instagram story. It does, however, warn when you capture a private private message - that's the only time. As far as published photos are concerned, you are safe.
The origins seem to stem from people noticing the notification in direct messages in late 2016. The screenshot notification didn't always happen, but it did appear later in an update.
Users quickly and understandably grew concerned that Instagram had started notifying screenshots across the board. The reality is that this is only true in direct messages.
It's also an interesting move by Instagram to go a different route than Snapchat, even with stories. While Snapchat discreetly notifies you if someone screenshots your story, Instagram doesn't at all. This is basically because as long as your profile is public, so is your story. The only exception is if you manually enter and change these settings.
Snapchat, on the other hand, is more private by default.
It's also a little disconcerting the first time you see a notification pop up when you capture a photo. This also fueled speculation, but Instagram has since changed the notification. At first, it just informed you that you took a screenshot, but now suggests that you share the photo instead using traditional methods.
If you're not comfortable taking screenshots of anything on Instagram, you can choose to share a photo instead. There are two methods to do this.
Above a photo or video you want to share, tap the ellipsis (three dots) to the right. If the post is public, you have options to share on Facebook, Messenger, or Twitter. You can also Copy Share URL to share a link to the photo via the medium of your choice. (The contents of private accounts do not show these options.)
If you're trying to send a photo to someone already on Instagram, the easiest method is to simply send them a direct message. Tap the Share icon (paper plane) under the photo or video and choose the user(s) to send it to. Choosing multiple people creates a group message.
You can also save a post for later to a personal collection by pressing the Bookmark button icon on the right. You can access your entire collection of saved messages by pressing the Profile button tab then the Bookmark icon up again. This list is private – accessible only to you – and users do not know when you add their photos to their favourites.
The bottom line is this:Instagram does not send notifications to take screenshots of posts. However, an easier method is to simply bookmark or share posts as described.
