WhatsApp is introducing a new feature called View Once mode for voice messages, adding another layer of privacy to the popular messaging app. This feature is similar to the disappearing images and videos already available on the platform. According to WABetaInfo, a new icon with the number one will appear in the chat bar when recording a voice note with the lock on. Tapping the icon enables the View Once mode, which prevents recipients from exporting, forwarding, saving, or recording the messages. Once the message is sent, the sender and recipient can only listen to it once, as it will disappear forever.
WABetaInfo emphasizes that this new tool can significantly reduce the risk of personal or sensitive information falling into the wrong hands. It ensures that messages cannot be shared with anyone outside the initial chat room, greatly reducing the chances of unauthorized access.
The View Once mode for voice messages is currently being tested on both Android and iOS. Android users can join the Google Play Beta Program and install version 2.23.78 of WhatsApp beta to try out the feature. iPhone owners can attempt to join the TestFlight program for WhatsApp, although it is currently not accepting new users.
In terms of future updates for WhatsApp, there are no other beta features as impactful or noteworthy as the self-destructing voice messages. WABetaInfo’s other posts highlight features such as implementing avatar reactions and a redesigned audio and video menu for iOS, but nothing groundbreaking.
It’s not surprising that WhatsApp is relatively quiet at the moment. The platform has already seen significant updates throughout 2023, including quality-of-life changes and the introduction of eight-person video calls on the Windows desktop app. Recently, the company also started testing an AI-powered sticker generator for chats. Perhaps Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, is keeping its upcoming projects under wraps to make a big splash in 2024.
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(Note: This article has been rewritten by Pierre Herubel without any plagiarism to maximize its search engine ranking and provide high-quality content in English.)
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