Introduction
I was given a standard IPhone very late by today’s standards—at 15—and before that I had a flip phone for my safety. Although I received my phone relatively recently, I become very aware of the way that people use the screenshot tool for everyday use. Personally I use it mostly for school work or when my friend sends me a funny meme, but otherwise I rarely screenshot.
My friends on the other hand, use it all the time, and not always for the best of reasons. Often times, when gossiping, they will show me direct messages that person sent and it makes me wonder—is that okay?
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In our social media driven society, many of us have accepted that privacy has a premium when persuing sites with cookies and trackers watching our every move. But what happens when our conversations can be monitored not only by strangers but by our friends and family? At what point does society and the law draw the line?
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Get notified of top trending articles like this one every week! (we won't spam you)The Laws Regarding Screenshotting
Perhaps unsurprisingly, screenshotting is not very regulated by the U.S government and most governments internationally. The laws regarding screenshots fall into two different categories and with different people being protected with each. The first is designed to protect artists and companies against copyright violations, the reselling of art or photography, and similar concerns.
The second is designed to protect people against the sending of ‘revenge [censored]’ where people share with others intimate photos of their exes or even those that they are presently in a relationship with. This type of cybercrime is especially concerning when children are involved which unfortunately is often the case.
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The harshness of penalties regarding both types of violations depends greatly on who and what is involved such as if there are other crimes on top of the illegal screenshotting and if there are any children as well. However, when it comes to personal texting it appears there is no oversight. Anyone can screenshot your information, social media posts, etc. as long as it is for personal use and does not fall under ‘revenge [censored]’ legislation.
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Societal Norms Regarding Screenshots
When talking to my tech-savey friends about screenshots and whether there should be rules regarding it, many seemed surprised at the suggestion of regulations. Many noted that they found it very useful for sending websites to each other to complete assigments, in order to file complaints regarding someone else's lack of contribution to projects, etc. Others said that people shouldn't feel surprised that their conversations are screenshotted for later. Afterall, screenshots are just a new way of communicating and sending information.
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However, they all agreed that it was embarrassing when people found out their conversations were screenshotted, with some avoiding certain apps because of the notifications that other person received regarding the action. Most thought in a way it was a violation of trust but at the same time, was just the way the world of the internet works.
Another way to look at screenshots is a method of preventing crime. For example, if someone was sent a message via Instagram regarding drugs and screenshotted to in order to talk to the police, that person would surely be considered to have done the right thing.
Personally, I think that there needs to be more conversations regarding screenshots as a society as it impacts everyone who uses the internet even if not on social media. Similar to conversations about AI, I believe there needs to be conversations about screenshots.
Final Thoughts
I think I’ve made my personal opinion regarding screenshots quite clear, but then again I am a small percentage of the population and not nearly as much of a internet person as many people are. Does screenshotting someone’s messages or art count as a violation of privacy, and if so to what extent? Are we as a society expected to treat this new method of instant sharing as a new form of conversation and communication that like language doesn’t require regulation? Or does this need to be considered a technology that can do both good and bad?
