A few days ago, WhatsApp revealed that it is working on a new function already known to the community of Snapchat users, as well as other platforms such as Telegram or Signal: the unique visualization of photos and videos sent.
This way, the recipient of the message can only see the received photos or videos once. A few moments later, the content disappears from the communication chat. This is interesting for many, even if it seems that WhatsApp has forgotten an important detail.
With version WhatsApp current beta, which corresponds to 2.21.14.3, users can already try this new feature on Android devices and not on iOS, which will soon be available to other users of the service.
How does the new feature work?
To send a photo or video that your WhatsApp contact can only see once, click the camera symbol or the clip at the bottom of the WhatsApp chat message field and select a photo or video in the Gallery.
A new symbol is then displayed with a circled “1” in the text field. If you click on it, it turns green and is activated. The message “Set of photos for a single view” appears. You can now send the photo as usual.
Unlike “normal” photos or videos, the media file is not displayed directly in the chat. Only one entry appears in the chat with the text “Photo” or “Video” and the “1” circled.
If the recipient touches this, they’ll see the photo or video. When it appears, the recipient can see it for as long as they want. Videos also do not disappear when playback is stopped. The chat partner can replay this video.
Once the recipient closes the media file, they will no longer be able to view it. The message “Open” appears in the chat for the sender and two blue check marks appear next to it informing that the message has been delivered.
The new function comes with a “bug”
Among the multitude of users who are already testing this function with the beta version of WhatsApp, we are already talking about some alternatives to be able to review the photo, as many times as you want, even if the sender of the message has configured it. like that.
Users report that it is still possible to take a screenshot with which to capture the image displayed on the screen. When it is a video, you can also record the mobile screen to record the playback.
Many Android phones have the appropriate tool easily accessible under the drop-down toolbar on the main screen. This makes it extremely easy to ignore this new WhatsApp feature.
We verify that it works with Snapchat as well, but here the sender receives at least one message that a screenshot was taken. This is also the case for photos from the Instagram chat, which like WhatsApp is also owned by Facebook.
In other words, the company is aware of this review, but simply either forgot it in the current beta or left it on purpose. However, we think there should at least be a hint or the screenshot feature should be completely blocked.
If someone uses this one-view delivery method, you’ll have their reasons for doing so and you don’t want it to be available later.
Other reputable platforms such as Signal, Snapchat and Telegram already offer a unique display feature. WhatsApp will follow suit, but it’s already part of WhatsApp’s tactic to emulate popular features from other services and platforms.
The year 2021 is a year of big changes for WhatsApp, incorporating exciting new functions that were sometimes already available on other platforms. In May, the possibility of speed up audios.
You might also be interested to know what advantages of using Telegram over WhatsApp.
.
