Instagram is testing story alerts if readers take a screenshot

Instagram has started testing a new feature that will identify users who take screenshots of public Instagram stories, expanding their existing function that accomplishes the same feat when screenshots are taken of a direct message.    

This feature will allow users to see who screengrabbed their content when looking through their list of story viewers, rather than giving them a direct notification. Those who screenshot Instagram stories will receive the warning below, though note that this feature is only in its testing phases and it has not been decided yet if the feature will be rolled out to all users. 

Right now several workarounds have been discovered to bypass the feature, from turning your phone on aeroplane mode and then taking a screenshot or simply taking a screenshot on a PC’s web browser instead of a mobile device. Instagram is currently analysing this features effect on the engagement of their users, which will be taken into account when deciding if this new feature will be rolled out to all Instagram users. 

A similar feature has already been adopted by SnapChat, one of Instagram’s major rivals, though it is worth noting that some SnapChat users did decide to move over to Instagram because of this feature. This is the reason why Instagram is taking extra care to judge the potential impact of this feature on the service, before rolling it out to the masses. 

You can join the discussion on Instagram’s screenshot alert feature on the OC3D Forums.