WhatsApp is launching a new feature called View Once, which aims to give users more control over their photos and videos. The feature basically restricts a recipient from opening an image more than once.
WABetaInfo has reported that the feature is now rolling out to beta testers on the platform running version 2.21.14.3. The feature will work across private and group chats. You can also view who has opened the image in a group by heading into the Message Info option.
So how do you send a View Once message? The steps below will guide you on how you can use the feature:
- Open a private or group chat.
- Tap the paperclip icon to attach/record an image/video.
- Once you’ve selected an image/video or captured new media, tap the 1 icon next to the Send button.
- A message saying “Photo/video set to view once” will appear.
- You can now send the media. The recipient will be allowed to view it only once.
The feature does restrict users from viewing images or videos multiple times but it is not entirely secure. WhatsApp will not notify you if a recipient screenshots the image. Moreover, if you share a View Once image in a group containing blocked contacts, these contacts can still view the media sent. So realistically, View Once isn’t a sure-shot way of ensuring that an image or clip isn’t preserved or shared by others.
View Once is only available in the beta channel right now and hopefully WhatsApp will figure out these privacy issues before the stable version launches.
