Instagram, Netflix, PayPal users think this privacy feature is stupid, do you agree?

An Instagram DM with some juicy details, PayPal account details, or a hilarious scene from a Netflix movie – netizens are getting annoyed as they can’t screenshot any of these things to share with their friends.

Recently, Instagram and other Meta-owned apps started a new campaign aimed at teenagers to protect them from online scams.

One of the safety features introduced by the company is blocking users from taking screenshots of images shared via DMs through “view once” or “allow replay.”

While this and some other features work to prevent young people from sextortion, social media apps aren’t the only ones that block users from screenshotting certain content.

Banks try to protect your financial information

Banking and financial apps, including Bank of America, Citibank, and Capital One, as well as payment platforms such as PayPal, won’t allow users to make screenshots as the information they capture is considered sensitive.

These restrictions work as a security measure. However, even though companies are trying to protect users' information, many people would much rather not be restricted from taking screenshots.

“I also wanted to take a screenshot in the PayPal app and ended up here, reading that this is not possible,” wrote one of the service’s users.

“[...] It's my PayPal account, it's my transactions, it's my money – it's my risk if I want to take a screenshot of it. Put it to a special setting to allow screenshots, give me 3x a warning when I want to enable it – but don't block it completely. Even my normal banking app allows me to screenshot it,” claimed the user.

No screenshots of your favorite movie scenes

Streaming service platform apps, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, Hulu, and others, also stop users from taking screenshots of the content they provide.

“[...] why all the streaming apps like Netflix and Disney plus have this stupid feature. [...] There was a hilarious moment in a show I wanted to share with someone, but then nope I get a message saying ‘this app has disabled screenshots’ and I'm like... why,” asked one online user on Reddit.

Others soon explained that the no-screenshot policy works as an “anti-piracy technique.” This way, streaming platforms claim to protect content copyright and ensure that it’s not distributed illegally.

To test the no-screenshot policy, I tried to screenshot a scene from the TV show The Office and was shown a black screen with subtitles (if you have them on) in return.

Social media apps have a different take

When it comes to social media applications, Instagram isn’t the only platform that bans users from screenshotting certain information. However, it’s hard to understand what users are allowed or not allowed to screenshot.

For example, some users online have been noticing that they can’t no longer screenshot information they see on their Facebook feeds. Meanwhile, when I tried testing this out with my own account, I was able to take screenshots of my feed. I also wanted to see if Facebook would allow me to screenshot other people’s profiles, which it did.

What’s interesting is that the same doesn’t work with WhatsApp, which has a policy of not allowing users to capture other people’s profile pictures.

I’ve also tested social media apps such as X and Bluesky, which don’t appear to have any screenshot restrictions.

People want screenshots, so they find workarounds

While the platforms mentioned have legitimate reasons for prohibiting screenshots of certain content for user protection, some do not.

“the way i see, screenshooting is a basic, primordial feature of any smartphone [...]. despite of that, some apps are able to inhibit this feature, why? apps that do this are literally controlling my phone abusively, inhibiting my device from performing a function,” wrote one user online.

This question started a heated discussion, with some disagreeing with the user and others sharing workarounds to still be able to make a screenshot.

Even when I was researching the topic and wanted to know which applications are limiting screenshotting, why, and how, I was first shown numerous articles on how to circumvent these restrictions.

For example, you can “tweak” app settings to allow screenshots, use Google Assistant to take screenshots for you, use desktop software that allows screenshots and screen recordings, or have an Incognito mode on while browsing to be able to take a screenshot.