After going through a beta trial period, WhatsApp has finally officially launched the View Once feature for users. This function allows the user to send a photo or video that will be automatically deleted as soon as the recipient sees it.
Previously, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had confirmed that the feature would be coming soon, but he did not provide details on its launch. According to the WABetaInfo website, this feature has been in beta testing for about a month.
On its blog, WhatsApp says that this feature will give users more control over their privacy. The View Once feature is also expected to be useful for many things, such as when sending photos with Wi-Fi passwords to friends.
WhatsApp also explains that photos or videos sent through the View Once feature will be protected with end-to-end encryption so that no one can peek at them. After viewing a photo or video, there will be an 'opened' message in the chat so that users are not confused.
New feature alert!
You can now send lost photos and videos once opened via Take a Look at WhatsApp, giving you more control over your chat privacy! pic.twitter.com/Ig5BWbX1Ow
- WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) August 3, 2021
In the FAQ about the View Once feature, WhatsApp also outlines the provisions regarding this new feature, namely:
Media will not be stored in Gallery or Photos on the recipient's phone
Once a user submits a photo or video through View After they can no longer view it
Photos or videos sent or received through the View Once feature cannot be forwarded, saved, tagged or shared
Users can only see open recipients or videos if they have read receipts enabled
If the photo or video is not opened within 14 days of being sent, the media will end in chat
Users must always enable One Time View if they want to send photos or videos that can only be viewed once
Media View Once can be restored from a backup if the message was not opened when the backup was performed. If the photo or video is already open, the media will not be included in the backup and cannot be restored.
WhatsApp also warns users to send photos or videos via View Once to trusted recipients. Because the recipient of the media can still take a screenshot before the content is lost and the sender will not get a notification if someone takes a screenshot or records the screen.
The recipient of the message can also take a photo or video of the media sent via a camera or other device before the media disappears, as quoted from the WhatsApp blog, Wednesday (4/8/2021).
So how to use the View Once feature in WhatsApp? The method is actually similar to how to send a photo or video as usual, but there is one extra step.
How to use the View Once feature in WhatsApp:
Open the WhatsApp app on Android or iOS, then select the chat you want to send photos or videos to
Tap the camera icon in the chat column then select the photo or video you want to send
Then tap the Take a Look icon in the shape of a circle with the number 1 in it in the 'Add caption' column
Send the selected photos or videos as usual
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APPS & GAMES