WhatsApp Introduces ‘View Once’ Text messages, Fulfilling long standing user demand

SAN FRANCISCO: WhatsApp, one of the world’s most popular messaging applications, is introducing a new feature that will allow users to send text messages that disappear automatically after being viewed once.
The messaging platform introduced its View Once feature in August 2021 to improve the privacy of photos and videos and reduce unnecessary storage consumption. Under this feature, photos and videos disappear from a chat after being opened once.

Now, WhatsApp is expanding the functionality to include text messages, allowing users to send messages that can only be viewed once.

According to a report by WABetaInfo, the new feature has appeared in the latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android. Beta testers can now send text messages that automatically disappear after recipients open and read them.

The feature is expected to provide users with a more private way to share sensitive information, including passwords, credit card details and other confidential information, reducing the risk of such information being exposed.

When WhatsApp initially introduced the View Once feature, the company said it could be used to share sensitive information, such as Wi-Fi login details and other confidential information, through photos.

WhatsApp already offers a Disappearing Messages feature, which automatically removes text messages after a selected period. However, the new View Once option will work differently, as it will apply to an individual message rather than an entire conversation.

According to the report, once the recipient opens and reads the message, it will automatically disappear from the chat.

Recipients will not be able to copy, forward or save these messages. The feature will also prevent screenshots, adding another layer of privacy to users’ conversations.