WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. One of the key features of WhatsApp is that it offers end-to-end encryption, meaning messages are secured and can only be read by the sender and recipient. However, what about screenshots? Can someone see if you screenshot their WhatsApp view once? This is a common question many WhatsApp users have.
What happens when you screenshot on WhatsApp
When you take a screenshot on WhatsApp, the other person is not notified or sent any kind of alert. WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption ensures your messages stay private, but it does not extend to preventing screenshots. There is no built-in feature on WhatsApp to notify someone if you take a screenshot of their messages or media. So if you screenshot a chat, photo, video, or anything else sent via WhatsApp, the sender has no way of knowing.
Exceptions
There are two exceptions when the other person can know if you screenshotted:
View Once Messages
WhatsApp introduced View Once messages in 2021. These are photos or videos that disappear after being opened. If you try to screenshot a View Once message, the sender will be notified. A small text alert will show up informing them that you took a screenshot of that media. So View Once messages have built-in screenshot prevention.
Third-Party Apps
While WhatsApp itself does not notify about screenshots, there are some third-party apps that claim to detect screenshotting. Apps like Spyzie and mSpy allegedly send notifications if someone screenshots a target user’s chat. However, the legitimacy and reliability of these apps is questionable. They would also require access to both users’ phones which makes it impractical in most situations.
Why doesn’t WhatsApp notify about screenshots?
WhatsApp not having native screenshot notifications comes down to user privacy. Taking screenshots is common functionality on any smartphone device. If WhatsApp blocked screenshots, it would be limiting normal use of people’s phones. There are many legitimate reasons people take screenshots, like capturing information to share at work or school, making travel reservations, internet banking, etc.
Additionally, avoiding screenshot notifications reduces harassment or abuse. An abusive user may demand their victim not screenshot evidence of threats or inappropriate behavior. If there was screenshot detection, it could put vulnerable users at risk of further harm.
Overall, WhatsApp’s priority is protecting user privacy and providing a safe communication platform. Letting people screenshot maintains individuals’ autonomy over their phones while still keeping chats end-to-end encrypted.
Can you prevent screenshots on WhatsApp?
Since WhatsApp itself does not have screenshot blocking, is there another way to stop people from screenshotting your chats? There are a few options:
Use View Once Media
As mentioned before, View Once photos and videos cannot be screenshotted without sending an alert. If you want to share visual media but prevent saving, View Once is the built-in WhatsApp solution. Just toggle the View Once option when attaching media.
Use Third-Party Apps
Some apps claim to offer WhatsApp screenshot prevention. However most have security flaws, privacy issues, unreliability problems, or require access to both devices. Use trusted and reputable anti-screenshot apps only.
Avoid Sending Sensitive Info Over WhatsApp
If you want to prevent screenshots of certain conversations, the only foolproof method is not sending those chats over WhatsApp in the first place. Use more secure platforms when sending banking details, passwords, or other sensitive data that should not be screenshotted.
What happens when you screenshot on other apps?
Facebook Messenger
Like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger does not send any notification when someone takes a screenshot of messages or media. This applies to both individual and group chats. Facebook Messenger also has end-to-end encryption and values user privacy and discretion.
Signal
Signal is another encrypted messaging app favored for its security. As with WhatsApp, you can freely screenshot on Signal without the other person knowing. Signal prioritizes privacy by not including screenshot notifications.
Telegram
Telegram has a Secret Chats feature that provides end-to-end encryption. Screenshots are allowed in regular Telegram chats without alerting the other person. However, Secret Chats do notify contacts when you screenshot their encrypted messages.
Snapchat
Snapchat is different from other messaging apps in that messages delete automatically after being viewed. Recipients are notified if you screenshot a Snap. This is to uphold Snapchat’s premise of ephemeral messaging. Taking screenshots defeats the purpose of temporary deletion.
Pros and Cons of WhatsApp not having screenshot notifications
Not having native screenshot notifications on WhatsApp has both advantages and disadvantages:
Pros
- Preserves user privacy
- Avoids restricting normal smartphone functionality
- Does not enable harassers who want to prevent evidence gathering
- Let’s people take screenshots for legitimate reasons
Cons
- No built-in way to prevent misuse of sensitive information via screenshots
- Could potentially be used for cyberbullying, blackmail, etc
- Third-party screenshot apps have security risks
Should WhatsApp add screenshot notifications?
There are reasonable arguments on both sides of whether WhatsApp should add native screenshot detection.
Reasons to add screenshot notifications
- Prevent misuse of confidential information
- Reduce unauthorized sharing of content like copyrighted media or private images
- Give users more control over their information
- Align with apps like Snapchat that alert about screenshots
Reasons not to add screenshot notifications
- Infringe on user privacy and autonomy
- Normal smartphone functionality should not be restricted
- Open to abuse by harassers who want to prevent reporting
- Nearly impossible to prevent workarounds like taking photos of screen
There are merits on both sides, so whether to add screenshot notifications comes down to WhatsApp’s priorities as a platform. Overall, WhatsApp seems unlikely to add this feature soon given its emphasis on privacy and encryption.
Conclusion
In summary, when you take a screenshot on WhatsApp, the other user is not notified or alerted under normal circumstances. The only exceptions are View Once media, which does send notifications, and some questionable third-party apps. WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption ensures your chats stay private but does not extend to preventing screenshots. There are reasonable pros and cons to adding screenshot notifications, but WhatsApp has indicated screenshot alerts are not a priority. Ultimately, if you want to prevent screenshots, your best options are using View Once or avoiding sending sensitive information over WhatsApp entirely.