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How can you tell who Screenshotted your Snap?

How can you tell who Screenshotted your Snap?

Snapchat has become one of the most popular social media platforms, especially among young people. A big part of Snapchat’s appeal is that the photos and videos (“Snaps”) users send disappear after being viewed. This creates a sense of privacy and ephemerality. However, there is one way Snaps can be saved without the sender knowing: through screenshots.

When someone takes a screenshot of your Snap, you won’t get a notification informing you. So is there any way to find out if someone took a screenshot of your Snapchat? Unfortunately, there is no foolproof method. But there are a few tricks and techniques you can use to determine if a screenshot was taken.

Check the Viewer List

The first thing you can do is check who viewed your Snap. To see your Snapchat viewer list:

  1. Open the Snapchat app
  2. Go to your profile by tapping the ghost/Bitmoji icon in the top left
  3. Tap the settings icon in the top right (it looks like a gear)
  4. Go to “View My Story”
  5. This will show you a list of friends who have viewed your story in the past 24 hours

Carefully look through the list and see if anyone viewed your Snap unexpectedly. For example, if you sent a Snap to just your best friend but see your crush also viewed it, they may have taken a screenshot and sent it to themself. The viewer list isn’t definitive proof but it can give you clues on who could have screenshotted your Snap.

Use Snapchat’s Screenshot Notification Feature

Snapchat actually has a feature where you can be notified if someone screenshots a specific Snap you send them. Here’s how to turn it on:

  1. Open a Snapchat to send to a friend
  2. Tap the arrow icon in the bottom right
  3. Tap “Advanced Settings”
  4. Toggle on “View Once”
  5. This makes the Snap disappear immediately after being opened
  6. Toggle on “Notify Screenshot”

Now if the recipient takes a screenshot, you’ll be notified. There are two caveats to this method:

  • The person can still take a screenshot secretly using third party apps or by taking a photo of the screen with another device
  • It only works for individual Chats, not Stories

So while Snapchat’s built-in screenshot notification isn’t flawless, it’s still helpful for figuring out if a one-on-one Snap was saved.

Send a Bait Snap

One sneaky tactic people use is to send a “bait Snap” – something provocative, funny, or controversial specifically created to tempt someone to screenshot it. Here are some examples of potential bait Snaps:

  • An embarrassing selfie in an outrageous outfit
  • Gossipy news or rumors about someone else
  • A photo of yourself with a celebrity or famous location
  • A ridiculous meme or prank photo

The goal is to send something tempting enough that someone just can’t resist taking a screenshot. After sending your bait, check the viewer list and see if the person you suspect screenshotted it viewed your Snap. Did other random people also view it? That’s a sign it was spread through screenshots. This method takes some effort but can reveal who betrayed your trust if you pick the right bait.

Use a Third Party App

There are some third party apps that claim to tell you if someone screenshots your Snapchat. Here are some options:

Snapchat Spy Apps

These apps like mSpy and TheTruthSpy require you to install them on the suspected screenshotter’s device. They run in the background and notify you if the user takes screenshots. Of course, this requires physical access to the person’s phone which isn’t always possible. There are also legitimate privacy concerns with using spyware apps.

Snapchat Saver Apps

On Android devices, apps like SaveMySnaps allow screenshots without Snapchat detecting them. You can secretly install the app on your own device, take screenshots, and see if anyone else downloaded them. This only reveals if a Snap was screenshotted in general, not who did it. It also only works on Android, not iOS.

In general, you should be very cautious about using third party apps. Some are scammy and you run the risk of getting hacked. Make sure to research any apps thoroughly first and see if they work as advertised.

Try Some Tests with Friends

To confirm if the above methods work, try doing some tests with your friends first. Come up with a secret code word and have a friend take a screenshot of your Snap containing it without telling you. Then check your viewer list and see if you notice anything amiss. You can also practice with the bait Snap method and see if your friend fesses up to taking screenshots.

Testing these techniques with consenting friends first can help you verify they work. You’ll also get better at spotting the warning signs of a incognito screenshot. Just make sure everyone agrees to the tests beforehand.

Confront the Suspected Screenshotter

If all else fails, you may need to directly ask the person you suspect of taking screenshots. Calmly confront them and explain exactly why you think they may have screenshots. While awkward, this straightforward approach is sometimes the only way to know for sure. Here are some tips for confronting a suspected screenshotter:

  • Don’t accuse, just ask – say “Did you take a screenshot of my Snap?” not “I know you took a screenshot!”
  • Do it privately, not publicly
  • Have evidence ready – show them the viewer list etc.
  • Be ready for denials or excuses
  • Make it clear it’s not ok without your permission
  • Consider taking a break from that friend if you can’t trust them

With the right approach, you may be able to get the confessional you’re looking for. Or at the very least, make it clear that you don’t give consent for your Snaps to be screenshotted without your knowledge.

Use Screen Recording as an Alternative

Rather than stressing about secret screenshots, you could always use screen recording to intentionally save Snaps. To screen record on iOS:

  1. Open the Snap you want to record
  2. Swipe up from the bottom to open Control Center
  3. Tap the Screen Recording icon (looks like a circle inside a circle)
  4. Tap “Start Recording”
  5. The screen will count down before recording starts
  6. Your screen is now being recorded, including the Snap
  7. When done, tap the red bar at the top and tap “Stop”

On Android:

  1. Open the Snap you want to record
  2. Open the shortcut menu by swiping down from the top
  3. Tap “Start recording”
  4. Your screen is now being recorded, including the Snap
  5. When done, open the shortcut menu again and tap “Stop”

The other person will be notified that you took a recording. But this puts you in control instead of leaving it up to others to screenshot secretly.

Conclusion

Finding out if someone took a sneaky Snapchat screenshot isn’t straightforward. The viewer list can provide clues, and you can confirm suspicions by directly asking the person or using bait Snaps. Installing third party apps comes with risks however. Ultimately, the only foolproof option is avoiding sending Snaps to people you don’t trust to respect your privacy.

Screenshot notifications and screen recordings give you some control over the situation. But there will always be ways for recipients to bypass Snapchat’s safeguards. The only way to be 100% certain no screenshots are taken is not sending personal or compromising Snaps in the first place. Think carefully about what you share and who you’re comfortable sharing it with.