Okay, so I got curious the other day about Instagram stories. You know, you post something, maybe a bit personal, maybe just funny, and you wonder, did anyone grab a screenshot of that? It’s a thought that pops into my head sometimes.
My Little Investigation
So, I decided to figure this out. First thing I did was post a test story. Just a random picture, nothing special. Then I asked a friend, “Hey, can you screenshot my story real quick? Let me know what happens.”
My friend did it. Then I went straight to my story viewers list. You know, where you swipe up on your story to see who’s looked at it. I scanned that list up and down. Nothing. No special icon, no notification, no little message saying “[Friend’s Name] took a screenshot”. It just looked like the normal viewers list.
Hmm, okay. Maybe it’s in the notifications? I checked my main Instagram notifications – the heart icon thingy. Nope, nothing there either. Just the usual likes and comments on my posts.
Then I started digging around in the settings. Went through Privacy, Security, Notifications settings… basically clicked on anything that sounded remotely related. Still couldn’t find any option or toggle related to screenshot notifications for stories. It just wasn’t there.
What I Remember and Found Out
I vaguely remembered hearing something about Instagram testing this feature way back. So I did a quick search online, just to confirm I wasn’t imagining things. And yeah, apparently back in 2018, they did try it out for a short while. People who screenshotted stories would get a little warning first, and then the poster would see a small star or sunburst icon next to the viewer’s name in the story viewers list.
But here’s the key thing: Instagram stopped that test. They removed the feature. Why? Who knows. Maybe people didn’t like it, maybe it was too complicated. The point is, it’s gone now.
So, for regular stories you post that disappear after 24 hours? Instagram does not tell you if someone screenshots them. Period.
What About Those Apps?
Now, you might see some apps or websites claiming they can tell you who screenshotted your story. I looked into those briefly. My gut feeling? Stay away.
- Most of them seem super sketchy.
- They often ask for your Instagram login details, which is a huge red flag for security. Handing over your password? No thanks.
- Honestly, I doubt they even work. Instagram’s system is pretty locked down. It’s unlikely a third-party app can magically get this information that Instagram itself doesn’t provide.
- Plus, using apps like that might even violate Instagram’s terms of service and could put your account at risk.
So, my personal practice is to avoid those completely. It’s just not worth the risk.
So, The Bottom Line?
After checking my own app, asking a friend, and doing a bit of digging, the conclusion is pretty simple. For your normal, everyday Instagram stories, you won’t get a notification if someone screenshots them. Instagram used to test it, but not anymore. And those third-party apps? Probably best not to touch them.
It is what it is. Just something to keep in mind when you’re posting.
