Following a previous announcement, WhatsApp has disabled users from screenshotting profile pictures. The feature is only available on Android currently. WhatsApp has brought in a new privacy feature that would create a blackout on the screen whenever a third party tries to take a screenshot of profile photos on the app.
Owing to this recent update, profile photo screenshots would be disabled on WhatsApp, targeted at preventing scams or rampant fraudulent activities.
WhatsApp has failed to addressed what the main purpose of this block is, and the function has not been finalised as there are some caveats to this security feature.
Read also: WhatsApp adds new security features
How the feature works
Android Police revealed the new privacy feature on WhatsApp, which was discovered by users on the Android version of the app. Just as Meta wanted, it now disabled profile photo screenshots of users of the platform. Whoever intends to screenshot the profile picture of another user would get an error message, and the screenshot they took would appear blank in colour black with nothing displayed.
Some users who get a warning as they try to screenshot, for others who attempt this screenshot that had no warning messages displayed on the screen, would have a blank image saved to their gallery.
This obvious inconsistency in response to the attempted screenshot, where one user gets a warning popup, and another gets a blank screenshot, suggests that the team is still working on perfecting the feature.
According to 9to5 Google, the feature is not entirely foolproof since the feature only works when a user attempts to screenshot the image when the profile photo of the other user is viewed in full screen. Those who are attempting a screenshot of the inbox or a profile preview may still get away with an image of the targeted contact that is clear only in a lower resolution.
With this development, WhatsApp is the first to introduce this, as competitive platforms like Signal Messenger and Telegram do not have it yet.
Other security measures
In the previous year, Meta introduced a new security feature to WhatsApp, which requires users to sign in their password when returning to the app. It also enables users to only sign in once and use other means of verification for easy access. Some of the verification paths include Facial Recognition or Fingerprint sensors, depending on the device.
Meta took things further by introducing the option of sending a voice note which can be listened to once. Users can now choose to set it to “View Once”. This would cause their voice note to disappear after the recipient has listened, just like they have with the media. The View Once feature for the photos and video media on WhatsApp was introduced in 2021, with 2024 ushering of voice notes as a step further in improving privacy.
All these features are in addition to the encryption that already exists. Reported accounts now face bans. Users of counterfeit versions of WhatsApp were also logged out of the platform. This effort proves Meta’s commitment to safeguarding its users.