WhatsApp’s disappearing messages trick is old news at this point. The feature, while handy, does have its issues. That’s especially true if the person on the other end tends only to check their phone at random intervals. Now, WABetaInfo reports that the app is addressing the flaws — with the help of view-once messages.
What is this, Snapchat?
View-once messages initially turned up on the messenger back in 2021, though oddly only supported images, videos, and voice notes. Messages were still forced to rely on ‘disappearing messages’, which automatically started a self-destruct countdown from the moment the message was sent, regardless of whether it had been read or not.
But a view-once message? As the name implies, it would wait to be seen by the receiving party first before setting out into the void. That’s what’s in store for WhatsApp users on both Android and iOS, as spotted in the latest iOS 26.24.10.16 update. There’s no telling when the feature will make it into the hands of users, unfortunately.
Read More: WhatsApp Plus officially comes to South Africa for R30/m
When it does eventually arrive, sending a view-once message sounds relatively easy. After typing out a message, the sender must long-press the send button, generating a drop-down menu. From there, hit “Send as view once”. View-once messages will be available in both individual and group chats, mimicking the feature’s roots.
Like its multimedia brethren, view-once messages will be subjected to the same privacy standards. That means that the receiver is unable to copy, forward, or share the message after receiving it. WhatsApp will also block screenshots and screen recordings when a view-once message is involved. Of course, a second device negates these safeguards, but there isn’t much WhatsApp can do about that.
