WhatsApp developers have been releasing improvements and updates focused on user privacy and security for a few years now. One of them is the one we will discuss in this article: the function to send photos, videos, and voice messages that disappear after being viewed once.
In other words, WhatsApp lets us send multimedia content that “self-destructs.” Best of all, this feature is very easy to activate.
What are "view once" photos that disappear from WhatsApp and what are they for
By default, media files sent via WhatsApp are automatically saved on the recipient's smartphone. Thanks to this, the files become part of the other person's archive and are stored in their WhatsApp Media folder.
However, for some time now, Meta's instant messaging app has been offering users the ability to send photos, voice messages, and videos that disappear from the chat and smartphone after the recipient has viewed them once. These single-view photos are not saved in the recipient's gallery and cannot be seen again once opened.
But, as they say, every law has a loophole. Although this is a useful and interesting feature focused on privacy, the app does not prevent the recipient from making a copy of the file through a screenshot or a recording, either with the smartphone they are using or another. Moreover, WhatsApp alerts the recipient that they have received a disappearing photo, video, or audio, so they can prepare beforehand before opening the file. In other words, it is advisable to think twice before sending sensitive content to others, even with this option enabled.
How to send temporary photos that self-destruct in WhatsApp
Sending temporary photos that self-destruct on WhatsApp is very easy. All you have to do is follow these steps:
- Open the WhatsApp app on your smartphone.
- Search for the chat of the person to whom you want to send the view once photo.
- Tap the camera icon at the bottom right.
- Search for the picture to send, but remember you can only send one self-destructing photo per message.
- Tap the icon with the number 1 at the bottom right of the comment bar.
- Tap the green button to send your temporary photo.
How to send temporary photos that self-destruct via WhatsApp
The image preview will be hidden in the chat screen. Another option is to use the share option without going through WhatsApp's gallery. The result will be the same if you tap the button with the number 1 that appears on the right in the comment bar.
