When you scroll through your camera roll, how many of your photos are actually just screenshots of other people's Instagram stories? You know, a recipe, a cute outfit, a beauty recommendation, a piece of gossip you need to text to a friend—all this important information is only available on someone's story for 24 hours, and it's essential to screenshot for later use.
Well now, according to TechCrunch, Instagram is rolling out a test that will allow some users to see when people do just that. Those included in the test will get a warning that the next time they screenshot a story, the person who posted the story will be notified:
Someone can see the alert by viewing the list of people who watched their story. Those who took a screenshot of their photo would appear with a tiny shutter logo next to their name:
TechCrunch reports that Instagram provided a statement acknowledging the test. It said, "We are always testing ways to improve the experience on Instagram and make it easier to share any moment with the people who matter to you."
For now, it's unclear whether this feature will become available to all users, though Instagram will probably be watching to see if the alerts impact engagement.
So please, screenshot with care.
Madison is the digital deputy editor at ELLE, where she also covers news, politics, and culture. If she’s not online, she’s probably napping or trying not to fall while rock climbing.
