Capturing an ephemeral visual from another user’s Instagram narrative involves utilizing a device’s built-in function to create a static image of the displayed content. As an example, if a user views a humorous video clip shared by a friend via their Instagram story, a screenshot allows the viewer to save that video frame as a permanent image on their device.
This practice serves several purposes, from preserving memorable or informative content that would otherwise disappear after 24 hours, to providing evidence of statements or promotions shared exclusively via this medium. Its emergence parallels the rise of impermanent content sharing, reflecting a desire to retain specific moments from streams designed to be transient.