WhatsApp has introduced a new chat feature affecting the sending and receiving of photo and video messages.
In the new feature referred to as ‘view once’ users can now send photos and videos that disappear from their chats after the recipient has opened once.
“For added privacy, you can now send photos and videos that disappear from your WhatsApp chat after the recipient has opened them once.
To use view once, please update WhatsApp to the latest version available for your device,” said WhatsApp.
Further, the platform explained that the sent media will not be saved to the recipient’s Photos or Gallery.
Guidelines on View Once
Also, WhatsApp users will not be able to share photos and videos sent with the view once feature on.
“You can’t forward, save, star, or share photos or videos that were sent or received with view once media enabled,” said WhatsApp.
Additionally, the sender can only see if a recipient has opened a view once photo, or video if they have read receipts turned on.
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If the recipient fails to open the photo or video within 14 days of it being sent, the media will expire from the chat.
“View once media can be restored from backup if the message is unopened at the time of back up. If the photo or video has already been opened, the media will not be included in the backup and can’t be restored,” said WhatsApp.
Furthermore, WhatsApp reminded users to always select view once media each time they want to send a view once photo or video.
WhatsApp Note to User
The social media platform urged users to only send photos or videos with view once media to trusted individuals.
Furthermore, WhatsApp stated that if the recipient is using the latest version of WhatsApp, the senders’ messages are protected with screenshot blocking for privacy reasons.
This means the recipient will not be able to take a screenshot of your view media.
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However, users were warned that recipients using an older version of WhatsApp may still be able to screenshot view once media.
WhatsApp explained that this is temporary hitch experienced as the company tests the feature.
“In future, no-one using WhatsApp will be able to screenshot your view once media. You won’t be notified if someone tries to take a screenshot or screen recording,” they noted.
Also, WhatsApp warned that view once media can still be saved using other mechanisms like taking photo or video of the view once media with a camera of other devices before it disappears.
