Instagram stories are temporary, and they only last for 24 hours. So, when you post a story, there are people who take screenshots because it isn’t like a post that remains permanently on the feed. Maybe you posted something funny, or they have a crush on you. Whatever the case may be, Instagram does allow screenshots of the story. There was a time when Instagram would alert users if the viewers took a screenshot of the story.

Whenever someone takes a screenshot, Instagram puts an icon that looks like a star. Here, the icon appears right next to the user’s Instagram handle. However, Instagram decided to remove this feature back in 2018. So, now users aren’t able to tell who took a screenshot or screen recorded their stories. But there are methods that you can use to be notified when someone takes a screenshot of your story. To find out, continue reading…

What Are Instagram Stories?

Instagram stories consist of a feed of pictures or videos, which disappears after a timeframe of 24 hours. This type of feed is different than the traditional one that remains permanently. These stories act as a slideshow where every video or image uploaded in your feed represents a new slide. Here, the pictures and videos appear for 7 and 15 seconds, respectively. A mixture of orange and purple rings appears right around your PP. It sends a signal to your viewers that you posted a new story.

Also, even if your stories disappear after a day, you can always post them on your highlights from the archive. The people who have missed out on your stories can check the highlights later to enjoy your content. Your followers can reply to all your stories through DMs or interactive elements like stickers and polls. You can also add custom music, unique captions, and overlays for spicing up their stories. It also helps in securing a wider reach of audience, which includes a majority of the kids these days.

How To Know If Someone Screenshot Your Story?

There’s only one way on how to know if someone screenshots your Instagram story. It is through a poll. Here’s how you can do so:

• First, you need to take a screenshot of your own story and save it to your gallery.
• Proceed to head to the “+” icon present at the top right corner of your screen.
• Choose the existing screenshot of the expired story and proceed.
• Next, you can choose to add text or filters but remember to leave space for your poll sticker.
• Now, you need to choose the stickers icon present in the app. Tap on the poll sticker.
• Here, you will come across a “Yes or No” type of page, along with the “Ask a Question” statement.
• Proceed in typing a question within this text area. Here, you can enter a text stating, “Who Liked My Story and Took a Screenshot of It?”
• After that, you can choose to edit the “Yes or No” response boxes. You can tailor it based on your liking or just go with the “Yes or No” flow instead.
• Tap on “Done” to complete your editing. Proceed in placing the poll sticker at your desired spot on the screen.
• Lastly, you can share this poll story to find out who took a screenshot of your previous stories.

Can I Use 3rd Party Apps Too?

To answer the question, yes! There are 3rd party applications that will help you in getting the job done. But we wouldn’t advise you to do so because it is far from safe. You are lurking in dangerous territory because Instagram has strict guidelines surrounding the use of such applications.

Instagram can easily find out through its API. When you use it, it will only bring problems, and you will become a victim of action block from Instagram. So, if you care and value your business on Instagram, then avoid using them.

Sharing Private Stories

If you are worried about some of the viewers taking a screenshot of your stories, then you can change the story settings. You can make use of the “Close Friends” choice present in your story settings. Here, you can curate a list of the friends and families in your followers’ list.

These are people that you can trust with your stories wherever you go. So, the next time you are on vacation and want to post something personal, you can choose to use the option of “Close Friends” on your story.

Notification of DM Screenshots

Yes, it is unfortunate that Instagram removed the notification feature on who screenshots your stories. However, the same can’t be said for DMs because Instagram does notify the sender. For example, if you send a funny selfie to a friend and your friend takes a screenshot of it, then you will be notified by Instagram. It is a very useful feature and puts limitations on the sneaky behavior of some users.