No More Fear of Chat Leaks? WhatsApp May Introduce 'View Once' Feature for Text Messages

WhatsApp New Feature: Currently, the 'View Once' feature on WhatsApp is available for photos, videos, and voice messages.

WhatsApp New Feature: The popular messaging app WhatsApp may soon offer a new privacy feature to its users. According to reports, the company is working on a feature that will allow text messages to be sent in 'View Once' mode. If launched, this feature would give users greater control over their messages and make sharing private information more secure.

What is 'View Once' currently available for?

At present, the 'View Once' feature on WhatsApp is available for photos, videos, and voice messages. When a user selects this option, the recipient can view or listen to the content only once. Additionally, actions such as saving, forwarding, or taking screenshots of these media files are restricted, thereby enhancing the security of sensitive information.

What does the report claim?

According to WABetaInfo, a website that tracks WhatsApp updates, indications of this feature have been found in the latest Android beta version. It is reported that the company is developing a 'View Once' option for text messages as well. However, the feature is not yet available even to beta testers and remains in the development stage.

How will the 'Text View Once' feature work?

According to the report, once the feature is released, users will be able to long-press the 'Send' button for a few seconds before sending a message. This will open a menu where a 'Send as View Once' option may appear.

The recipient will be able to read a message sent using this option only once. Once opened, the message will no longer be accessible, providing an extra layer of security for private conversations.

Easier to share sensitive information

If this feature is introduced, sharing information such as OTPs, banking details, personal phone numbers, or other confidential data could become safer, as the message will appear only once and cannot be accessed again later.

Work also underway on 'Spoiler Messages' feature

There were also reports some time ago that WhatsApp is testing a new feature called 'Spoiler Messages'. The aim of this feature is also to enhance user privacy.

Messages sent using this option will initially appear blurred. The recipient will need to tap on the message to read it. This prevents others nearby from easily viewing the message content.

When will the new feature be available?

WhatsApp has not yet shared any official information regarding the launch date of this feature. It is expected to be released to beta users first and could be rolled out to all users following successful testing. If the 'View Once Text Messages' feature is launched, it could prove to be a significant and useful addition to WhatsApp's privacy-focused features.