The new privacy feature introduced by WhatsApp allows users to send secret text messages that can only be opened once, with restrictions on screenshots, copying and forwarding.
WhatsApp has begun rolling out a new privacy feature that allows users to send text messages that disappear after the recipient has viewed and closed them.
The feature, called View Once for text messages, is currently available to selected Android beta testers running WhatsApp version 2.26.45.6, according to WhatsApp updates tracker WABetaInfo.
WhatsApp already offers View Once functionality for photos, videos and voice messages. The latest development extends the feature to ordinary text conversations.
Unlike the app’s conventional disappearing messages, which remain accessible until a selected timer expires, View Once text messages become unavailable after they have been opened and closed.
To use the feature, users need to type a message in a WhatsApp chat and press and hold the send button. They can then select the View Once option.
The app displays an explanation of how the feature works the first time it is used, requiring users to tap OK before proceeding.
Once sent, the message’s contents are not displayed directly in the conversation. Instead, the recipient must tap it to open the text in a separate viewing interface.
After the recipient closes the message, it disappears and cannot be opened again.
WhatsApp also marks the message as opened, allowing the sender to see that it has been viewed if read receipts are enabled.
WhatsApp has introduced several restrictions intended to prevent recipients from saving or sharing View Once text messages.
Recipients cannot copy, forward or save the message through the app. Screenshots and screen recordings are also blocked while the message is open.
Once the message has been viewed and closed, neither the sender nor the recipient can access its contents again.
However, the restrictions cannot guarantee complete privacy. A recipient could still use another device to photograph or record the message while it is displayed.
According to WABetaInfo, the current version of the feature does not support scheduled messages.
It remains unclear whether WhatsApp will add scheduling support before the feature is released more widely.
WhatsApp has started making View Once text messages available to selected users running its Android beta version 2.26.45.6.
However, access is being rolled out gradually, meaning not every beta tester will receive the feature immediately.
The company has not announced a date for its wider release on Android or confirmed when it might become available on iPhones.
The feature is part of WhatsApp’s continuing efforts to expand its privacy tools and give users greater control over how their messages are viewed and shared.
