WhatsApp apparently desires to present customers a bit extra management over the pictures and movies they share on the messaging app. The firm not too long ago unveiled a brand new function to iOS and Android beta testers that permits them to ship disappearing messages.

As reported in WABetaInfo, WhatsApp launched the “View Once” function for iOS customers on Friday, shortly after it rolled it out for Android customers in late June. The function permits customers to ship pictures and movies that may disappear from WhatsApp chats after they’re considered as soon as. It seems to be similar to the function supplied on Instagram and Facebook Messenger, though Instagram permits senders to let recipients view the content material as soon as extra earlier than it disappears.

And, in fact, all of those options construct off the system popularized by the unique disappearing media community: Snapchat.

Notably, based on screenshots taken by WABetaInfo, the app is not going to stop others from taking screenshots. The content material will disappear within the sender’s chat and within the recipient’s chat if View Once is chosen. Senders will have the ability to see whether or not their content material has been considered within the chat by watching out for an “Opened” message. For Android customers, the function was additionally obtainable for group chats.

“For more privacy, your photo or video will disappear from the chat after the recipient opens it once,” the message saying the function within the app reads. “Remember, people can always take screenshots.”

The outlet studies that WhatsApp is not going to notify customers if recipients have taken screenshots of their disappearing content material. It explains that it’s because there is no such thing as a foolproof manner of blocking customers from taking screenshots and sustains that claiming to take action would supply customers a false sense of safety. Alas, who is aware of what individuals would ship. Considering the stuff individuals ship in messages even once they know others might take screenshots, that is most likely correct.

WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally confirmed this function to WABetaInfo in early June, so it’s protected to say we’ll all be getting it quickly. Zuckerberg additionally talked about a “disappearing mode,” which might make all of your messages in all chats disappear and make your WhatsApp expertise “ephemeral,” in his phrases.

I imply, I assume some actually personal (or paranoid) individuals would dig disappearing mode, however as somebody who refers again to WhatsApp messages to search out buddies’ addresses and different necessary data, it might trigger me a mighty massive drawback. To every their very own, although.