Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg has warned Messenger users of a new feature that will soon arrive on the popular messaging app.
The new feature could leave millions of users red-faced with some awkward explaining to do as the CEO of Meta said users will now be notified when a screenshot is taken of one of their conversations within the app.
Anyone trying to sneakily share their conversations with friends will instantly be exposed as the person in the chat will receive a notification when the conversation is screenshotted.
Zuckerberg posted images of a chat he was having with his wife, Priscilla Chan, showing how the update works.
During the conversation, Chan snaps a photo of the chat with a message then appearing on the screen saying: "Priscilla took a screenshot."
However, the update will only apply to the new disappearing mode, limiting the amount of time a message can be seen.
Speaking about the change, Zuckerberg said: "New update for end-to-end encrypted Messenger chats, so you get a notification if someone screenshots a disappearing message."
The screenshot alert has already begun to be rolled out in the United States, with the change expected to be seen across the world in the coming weeks.
And the news doesn't stop there as Instagram will also be getting a similar function.
Facebook isn't the first social media platform to notify someone when their message has been screenshotted, as Snapchat has offered the feature for years.
Reports suggest Facebook has taken the measure in response to worries over the security and safety of its users.
River Hart, Digital Privacy Expert at ProPrivacy, told express.co.uk: "It's encouraging to see that Facebook Messenger and Instagram will be rolling out vanish mode in the near future in a move that undoubtedly aims to protect user privacy."
They added: "Whilst many Facebook and Instagram users implicitly trust their contacts, there is always the risk that anything you share digitally can end up circulating elsewhere on the web – and not always with your knowledge or permission - resulting in personal or professional ramifications.
"The new updates to Facebook Messenger and Instagram will allow frank conversations about unwarranted screenshots, allowing you to quiz the culprit about what they plan to do with the image. It may also prove useful in cases of abuse, harassment, or scams."
