WhatsApp has introduced a new privacy feature that prohibits users from taking screenshots of others’ profile pictures on Android devices. This enhancement follows a testing phase in the app’s beta version over recent weeks and is now being rolled out to the broader user base.
The details surrounding the functionality that prevents screenshots of profile images have not been officially disclosed by Meta. According to a report from Android Police, users utilizing both stable and beta versions of WhatsApp on Android will encounter a block when attempting to take a screenshot while viewing another user’s profile picture. However, this feature does not extend to WhatsApp’s iOS users, who can still capture screenshots freely.
Gadgets 360 tested this feature and confirmed that on a Samsung smartphone, the app successfully blocked a screenshot. An attempt to screenshot the profile photo of another user on a Pixel 7a resulted in a blank image. These results highlight the effectiveness of the new privacy measure on certain devices.
Nonetheless, users should be aware that while the feature may prevent screenshots, it does not entirely safeguard against image capture. For instance, an individual could still photograph their screen with another camera or smartphone. Additionally, tapping on a profile picture in the main chat list displays a small thumbnail, which is still vulnerable to screenshots.
In another development, feature tracker WABetaInfo revealed that the latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android has introduced a new option allowing users to pin multiple messages at the top of a chat. Presently, users can pin a single message, but the upcoming update is set to allow up to three messages to be pinned concurrently. Beta testers interested in this feature can access it by updating to WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.6.15, with a broader rollout planned for all users on both iOS and Android in the future.
