WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will allow users to send a view once text message from within the app. The WABetaInfo Community is still working on this new feature through the Google Play Beta Program.
This update has been distributed to some beta testers and will be included in a future WhatsApp beta for Android updates.
But what exactly is a view once text? As you might expect, the view once text will completely disappear from the conversation when the recipient opens it, making it impossible to read the view once text again.
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How does it work?
This new feature is similar to the view once video and photo features. Although, there are some slight differences.
With this feature comes a new button next to the chat bar with a lock symbol within. To make a message a view once text, you must click on that button to activate it.
Once done, it automatically gives the text message a limited viewing opportunity. Just like the view once features for photos and videos, this feature for text messages will be handy when sharing important or sensitive information.
While some have wondered how significant this feature is since WhatsApp information is already encrypted, some users can often leak information by taking screenshots. Still, this new feature makes it impossible to share, forward, or copy view once text messages.
Screenshots will also be blocked, making it impossible for recipients to keep a version of the sent message. It also deletes the messages from the recipient’s phone for added privacy once read.
Since this feature is still under development, the layout might change before the release, but the outcome will be very similar to how it is now under development.
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Other WhatsApp update plans
The WABetaInfo Community is also working on other updates on WhatsApp. It recently announced that it is working on a reaction feature for announcement groups in its communities.
The update is to provide a feature that allows people to react to a message without revealing their phone numbers, especially as the communities’ participants’ list is private.