users will be able to send disappearing photos and videos for the first time as part of an update designed to give users greater control of their privacy.
The
-owned messaging app is following in the footsteps of
Snapchat
and
by giving users the option to send media intended to be viewed just once.
The update will be available to all users running the most recent version of WhatsApp from this week, the company confirmed.
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While disappearing messages have long been associated with sharing risqué content, WhatsApp suggested the “View Once” feature is a useful way to share media users wouldn’t necessarily care about keeping in their camera roll.
These could include photos of outfit options taken in a changing room or snaps of sensitive information such as a router’s name and Wi-Fi password.
WhatsApp has introduced a disappearing photos and videos feature called View Once (Photo: WhatsApp)
“As with all the personal messages you send on WhatsApp, View Once media is protected by end-to-end encryption so WhatsApp cannot see them,” the company wrote in a
blog
post.
“They will also be clearly marked with a new “one-time” icon.
“After the media has been viewed, the message will appear as ‘opened’ to avoid any confusion about what was happening in the chat at the time.”
Pictures sent using the feature can’t be forwarded, starred or saved and will not be automatically saved to the recipient’s photos or gallery apps.
Only users with blue-tick read receipts turned on will be able to see whether the recipient has opened the picture or video, and media that hasn’t been opened within 14 days of being sent will automatically expire.
However, it is possible to view the unopened picture or video from a backup of WhatsApp chats. Media that’s already been opened will not be available to view for a second time.
WhatsApp also points out that while media is unable to be viewed more than once when sent with the feature, it may be stored on WhatsApp’s servers “
for a few weeks
” after it was sent.
Similarly, if the recipient chooses to report the disappearing content to WhatsApp, the company will be able to access it.
There is also no way to alert the sender if the recipient takes a screenshot, screen recording or a picture using another device of the disappearing photo or video, Whatsapp cautioned, reminding users to “only send photos or videos with View Once media enabled to trusted individuals.”
