Want to send across a message or a video but you don’t want the recipient to see it more than once or save it? Then you need to check out these New Fun Features of Whatsapp. The messaging app is rolling out a disappearing photos feature for beta users in 2021 known as ‘View Once.’
This is similar to how Instagram’s expiring media feature works. A photo will disappear once the receiver opens it and leaves the chat. It’s pretty straightforward; images and videos sent using the View Once feature can only be opened once by the recipient. There’s no media preview.
Instead, there’s a text-sized bubble that will say whether it’s an image or a video that’s been sent. Users will be able to send disappearing photos by just choosing photos from the gallery. Once selected, you will have to tap on the clock-like icon.
Disappearing message a New Fun Features of Whatsapp
If a user doesn’t open WhatsApp in the seven-day period, the message will disappear. However, the preview of the message might still be displayed in notifications until WhatsApp is opened. The feature works for videos, photos, and GIFs.
If the view once button is not visible to you when sharing the media with anyone, then it means that you haven’t received the feature. One will find this feature in WhatsApp’s 2.21.14.3 Android version. If you disable read receipts, the recipient will still be able to see if you have opened the photo. Or video set to view once, but you won’t be able to check when the recipient opened your image.
If you are sharing a disappearing image in a group, then you will be able to see when other participants are opening expiring photos even if you have disabled read receipts. It should be noted that the recipient might be able to save the photo or video using screenshot or screen recording features, and WhatsApp won’t even notify you because there is no screenshot detection.
If you send a photo using View Once button to anyone who hasn’t enabled this feature, then the feature will still work.