Mark Zuckerberg has cautioned users against taking screenshots of their Messenger chats, as they may now be notified if someone captures an image of their conversation.

In a Facebook post from January 2022, the Meta CEO announced a new update. Useful for end-to-end encrypted Messenger chats, which includes screenshot notifications for disappearing messages.

“New update for end-to-end encrypted Messenger chats so you get a notification if someone screenshots a disappearing message,” Zuckerberg wrote.This update follows a previous change to Facebook Messenger that introduced disappearing messages. A feature already available on other platforms like Snapchat. These messages vanish automatically after being viewed, enhancing privacy for users.

According to The Independent, the screenshot notification feature was initially rolled out to Facebook users in the U.S., with plans for expansion to Europe.

Snapchat has long offered similar alerts, and Meta has now extended the feature to Instagram as well, reportedly due to security concerns.

Zuckerberg’s announcement sparked a wave of reactions, amassing over 94,000 comments. Many users pointed out potential loopholes to bypass the notification system.

“Screen recorder will do, I guess,” one person commented.

“What if someone just uses another phone to take a picture of the chat?” another user suggested.

“Now we’ll just use a second phone instead of taking screenshots,” a third agreed.

Some users even shared tricks to avoid detection. “Turn off Wi-Fi and data, take the screenshot, then turn it back on and continue messaging like a pro,” one user wrote.

Others criticized Meta’s priorities, arguing that the company should focus on more significant issues.

“I have to say, what you’ve accomplished is super cool. However… I wish the same energy was put into making REAL LIFE better for humanity instead of the virtual one,” a user remarked, emphasizing the value of human interaction.