● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
Bluesky uses an iOS privacy API to display its logo only in screenshots
Key points
- Bluesky's logo appears only in screenshots, not during normal app use.
- The technique uses iOS's `isSecureTextEntry` property on a `UITextField`.
- The actual content is rendered into the field's layer, which iOS blanks during screenshots.
- The method is documented in the `GrowthHack.tsx` file and `expo-privacy-sensitive` package.
Bluesky's Screenshot Logo
Bluesky has implemented a method that causes its logo to appear in screenshots of posts, even though the logo is not visible within the app's interface during regular use. This behavior was observed when users took screenshots of posts, finding the Bluesky logo in the corner where a 'Follow' button normally resides.
Technical Implementation
The mechanism behind this involves exploiting an iOS privacy feature. Bluesky utilizes a `UITextField` with the `isSecureTextEntry` property set to true. The actual content, such as the 'Follow' button, is rendered into this field's layer. When a screenshot is taken, iOS blanks out the `UITextField` layer for privacy reasons, which then reveals the Bluesky logo positioned underneath. This approach is documented in the `GrowthHack.tsx` file and the `expo-privacy-sensitive` package within the open-source Bluesky code.
Why It Matters
This technique is a clever use of an existing iOS API, originally designed to protect sensitive information from appearing in screenshots. While some might view it as an unconventional use of a privacy feature, it allows Bluesky to subtly brand shared content without cluttering the in-app user interface. Similar methods have been used by other applications like Telegram and Signal for 'secret' chats, suggesting Apple is unlikely to patch this behavior soon.
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Primary sources
GitHub bluesky-social/social-app GitHub mozzius/expo-privacy-sensitive GitHub TelegramMessenger/Telegram-iOS GitHub signalapp/Signal-iOSReporting from
Bluesky embeds its logo into screenshots by leveraging an iOS privacy feature intended to hide sensitive text fields. The app uses a `UITextField` with `isSecureTextEntry` set to true, rendering the actual content into the field's layer, which iOS blanks out during a screenshot, revealing the logo underneath. This technique allows the logo to appear in screenshots without being visible during normal app use.