As a new step in the field of privacy, Meta is testing “View once”mode for WhatsApp texts. Messages sent in this way disappear immediately after viewing.
- What is happening? WhatsApp is working on a more extreme version of its ephemeral messaging feature, with the ability to send text messages for a one-time view.
- Why care? This feature will increase your privacy on exchanges that contain sensitive information. Texts sent in the “Single view”mode, after viewing, automatically disappear for both the sender and the recipient.
- What to do? If you’re not on beta, please be patient. The ability to send text messages in view once will be implemented in a future WhatsApp update.
WhatsApp adds ‘View once’ mode to text messages
WABetaInfo has detected single view texts in the latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android with version number 2.22.25.20.
This upcoming feature is currently not available in the WhatsApp for iOS beta, but we will be sure to let you know as soon as the company starts testing the one-time view version for iPhone.
Android beta users have a new “Submit”button with a padlock symbol.
Touching it will send a text message in view mode once, after which it will immediately disappear after viewing. The recipient cannot share or forward the message. In other words, a more extreme version of disappearing messages is in the works.
WhatsApp already supports once-once media
In November 2020, WhatsApp debuted the ability to send text messages that automatically disappear after seven days. Later, the app added additional message expiration options, allowing you to choose whether a text message will expire after 24 hours, seven days, or 90 days.
On top of disappearing texts, WhatsApp has made further inroads into the ephemeral messaging space with the introduction of View Once media.
When attaching a photo or video to a WhatsApp message, tap the icon in the title field that resembles a timer. This will send the selected media in view mode once, with the attachment self-destructing as soon as the recipient views it or closes the message. For more information, read our dedicated tutorial on sending disappearing photos and videos using WhatsApp View Once Mode.
And when WhatsApp finishes testing the View Once feature in a few weeks, users will be able to send messages that will immediately disappear after viewing, rather than after 24 hours, a week, or 90 days.
You may be able to take screenshots of text for a one-time view, but not for long – a year after rolling out photos and videos for a one-time view, WhatsApp began blocking screenshots and screen recordings for photos and videos for a one-time view.