PSA: Snapchat Still Notifies You When Someone Screen Records Privately Messaged Snaps on iOS 11 - MacRumors
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PSA: Snapchat Still Notifies You When Someone Screen Records Privately Messaged Snaps on iOS 11

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One new feature in iOS 11 lets you easily record the screen of your iPhone as you navigate around the user interface, which can be useful when trying to help someone remotely troubleshoot an iOS problem or when making videos to share online. Since iOS 11 officially launched to the public yesterday, many users on Twitter and other sites have begun to worry that people will be able to screen record their Snapchats and Instagram Direct messages without notifications warning them of such activities taking place.

While it appears that such is the case for Instagram Direct, Snapchat will still let you know when someone is screen recording your privately messaged snaps. Thanks to a tipster who emailed us this morning, we decided to test out sending both still images and videos through the two previously mentioned apps, and discovered that Snapchat treats iOS 11's screen recording feature just as it does for taking a screenshot.

ios 11 snapchat recording

After using screen recording, the sender (left) is shown in-app screenshot icons and the receiver (right) gets notified

If your iPhone is locked, you'll get a push notification saying someone "took a screenshot!" of either your photo or video, and if you're within the app then Snapchat will still display the double-crossed arrows and let you know that the receiver took a "screenshot just now." So, while Snapchat isn't able to directly tell you that it's a screen recording on iOS 11, you'll still know that your DMs are being saved. Stories, on the other hand, appear to be less abiding to the screen recording/screenshot notification system, at least for now.

Instagram Direct doesn't yet appear to have such a feature for iOS 11 screen recording warnings. Similar to Snapchat, Instagram Direct lets you send disappearing photos and videos to other users, and includes a screenshot notification whenever the recipient captures the content you sent privately.

In tests on iOS 11, neither photos nor videos captured via screen recording in Instagram Direct told the sender that such an action had taken place. If screen recording becomes a bigger issue for these private messaging apps, and others like them, it's likely that developers will begin to implement more direct warning systems for users to look out for.

Take a look at our guide for iOS 11 screen recording to learn more about the new feature, and then check out our complete iOS 11 Roundup for all of the major -- and minor -- additions that were introduced in the new software update.

Thanks, Joshua!

Top Rated Comments

ck2875 Avatar
117 months ago
Has it done this since screen record was added, or has this recently been added to snapchat?
You can almost feel the onset of panic.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PhillyAnt Avatar
117 months ago
I remember the first time I got caught taking a screenshot of a snapchat. I felt so dirty when I found out the other person was notified of what I did. So. very. dirty... lol
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bennyf Avatar
117 months ago
I would think airplane mode would make all this redundant.
You wouldn't need snapchat if your phone could turn into an airplane. Man, I want airplane mode!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ck2875 Avatar
117 months ago
I remember the first time I got caught taking a screenshot of a snapchat. I felt so dirty when I found out the other person was notified of what I did. So. very. dirty... lol
You still got them nudes though.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
117 months ago
I remember the first time I got caught taking a screenshot of a snapchat. I felt so dirty when I found out the other person was notified of what I did. So. very. dirty... lol
First time implies there was a second time, right?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PhillyAnt Avatar
117 months ago
You still got them nudes though.
:);)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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