A screenshot is useful context, not the whole record

A screenshot can capture an important message quickly. It can also omit the sender, the surrounding conversation, the date, or a later correction. Preserve the context privately so a screenshot does not become a more certain claim than the underlying message supports.

Record where it came from

Note the platform, the account or person who supplied it, and when you received it. Distinguish the message's apparent sending time from your receiving time. A forwarded screenshot may have passed through several people before reaching you.

If you retain an original conversation, keep it intact and follow the responsible authority's instructions about providing material. Do not access someone else's private account to obtain more context without authorization.

Avoid editing the meaning

A crop for readability can hide an important qualification. Preserve the full source privately before making a sharing copy, and describe any crop. Do not add labels that make a suggestion look like a verified statement.

• Is the first source known?
• Is the event time visible and understood?
• Does missing context affect the meaning?
• Is there a later correction?

Limit public circulation

Screenshots can expose phone numbers, profile photos, private conversations, or unrelated people. Pass potential evidence to the appropriate case contact instead of encouraging a public investigation in the comments.

Use a neutral summary in your working notes: what the message claims, who supplied it, and what remains unverified. This preserves its possible usefulness without presenting a cropped image as conclusive proof.