WhatsApp has been on the forefront of providing messaging services to users across the globe. With over 2 billion users on the platform, WhatsApp is the most used messaging app in the world. With the number of users, WhatsApp has continually worked on making its platform more secure, and give its users more sense of privacy.
In an added move to provide additional level of privacy to its users, WhatsApp is adding a new feature to its users’ privacy experience. This feature is added on the “View Once” feature which was released last year.
With “View Once” users can send a file which can only be opened once by the recipient. This feature gave a level of privacy to WhatsApp users because it prevents media files from being saved and reused after it has been viewed. However, the recipient can still take screenshots of the files, even with the “View Once” feature.
To provide an additional level of privacy, WhatsApp is providing a feature that will block the use of screenshot and screen record on media files that have been market to be viewed once. This mean, when a file is sent with the “View Once” tag, it will only be viewed once, and while viewing, the device on which the file is viewed will not be able to take screenshots or screen record when the file is being viewed.
According to WABetaInfo, when a user take screenshots or records the screen while viewing a “View Once” content, WhatsApp will now show a message saying that the shot was “blocked for added privacy.” WABetaInfo is a platform that tracks the release of new features on WhatsApp.
To make it even more interesting, WhatsApp has ensured that there is no way to change the setting to allow screenshots on “View Once” files, so, once the feature is released for everyone, it will remain that way for all. It is unclear, however, how WhatsApp intends to have this feature work on WhatsApp Web, due to the availability of 3rd party apps and widgets that can record browser activities.
Read also: Instagram is currently testing “repost” feature
Currently, the feature is still only available for users on WhatsApp beta version 22.21.0.71 (build 405622068). The exact date for the release of the feature to the general public is currently unknown.
In the meantime, WhatsApp is also working on a couple of other features. One of the features to be expected in the future is a feature that will allow WhatsApp users to create interactive polls. WhatsApp is also working on a feature that is already mainstream on Zoom. The feature will allow WhatsApp users to share link for other users to join a call.