After several weeks of testing, WhatsApp has begun to enable all users the ability to send self-destructing photos. This feature, which is very similar to the one found in apps like Instagram or Snapchat, allows you to send images or videos that the recipient can only see once.
Photos that self-destruct can be sent to both an individual chat and a group. The person who shares the image can know, through a badge in the chat, if the recipient has opened it. In the case of photos or videos sent to groups, the sender has the opportunity to see which members have seen the multimedia content.
The messaging app presents this feature, called “Single View”, as a new privacy feature which can be used, for example, to share images with personal information. The photos or videos sent through this function are not stored in the gallery nor are they registered on the WhatsApp servers. Therefore, unless the recipient takes a screenshot, they will not be able to view it again.
So you can send and receive a self-destructing photo on WhatsApp
If you want to send a self-destructing photo or video on WhatsApp, you will first need update the app to the latest version. To do this, go to the application store of your smartphone, click on your account section and access the “Updates” tab. Then update WhatsApp.
To send an image or video that can only be viewed once, go to a chat or group and click on the camera icon that appears at the bottom of the screen. Then take a photo or capture a video. If you prefer, you can also select an image from your gallery. Finally, before sending the image, you must click on the circular button that appears in the text box, next to the submit button. WhatsApp will show a warning that the image can only be viewed once.
The recipient will receive a message with the photo that self-destructs once opened. To see it, you must click on that notice. There is no display time, the image will be removed when the user exits the preview. You must also take into account that those people who have a lower version and have not yet implemented the function in their account, also will be able to receive images that self-destruct, but do not send them.