You can just act casually. It's a normal thing to do on Instagram.
If people know you watch Instagram stories, you could simply smile and say that you find some of the stories interesting. There's no need to be overly defensive. You can also engage in a conversation about the interesting content you've seen in the stories, which can turn it into a positive interaction.
In most cases, no. Instagram doesn't notify others when you simply view their story.
No, usually they can't. Instagram doesn't notify users when someone takes a screenshot of their story.
Yes, they can. Instagram has features that can show if someone has viewed your story.
Generally, people don't get notified specifically that you've watched their stories. However, if you interact or your viewing pattern is somehow detectable through other means, they might have an idea.
Maybe not. Instagram doesn't usually notify others when you specifically watch a story.
As of now, Instagram focuses more on the sharing and viewing aspects of stories rather than monitoring screenshots. There are no official notifications sent to the user whose story is screenshot. This means that you can freely screenshot an Instagram story without worrying about the owner being informed.
Usually, no. Instagram doesn't notify others when you take a screenshot of their stories.
No, usually people can't tell if you screenshot their Instagram story.
In most cases, no. Instagram doesn't notify the person whose story you view.
In most cases, no. Instagram doesn't have a built-in feature to notify someone if you screenshot their story.