Meta-owned WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature that will allow users to send self-destructing audio messages that can only be played once.
Hindustan Times tells us that the feature is now in development and would improve the privacy and security of communication on the app.
As seen in the screenshot released by WABetaInfo, a known WhatsApp news tracker, the new "view once audio" feature will be accessed by pressing the 'Audio' button. Check out the screenshot here:
The audio message will not be saved, forwarded, or recorded once it has been sent, assuring further privacy for both the sender and the recipient. This is comparable to WhatsApp's previous view-once feature for images and videos.
Enhanced Security for Audio Messages
The self-destructing audio feature offers additional privacy by only playing the audio message once, reducing the chance of someone else accessing or listening to it afterward.
This is especially beneficial for sensitive or confidential conversations that users want to be kept private. The sender can also be assured that the recipient will not forward or save the audio message.
The feature is currently in development and is not ready for public use. Like any new feature, it will be beta tested with a small group of individuals before being made available to the general public. WhatsApp has not yet revealed when the feature will be available or which devices will be compatible with it.
WhatsApp Security Concerns
The self-destructing audio feature is just one of many privacy-focused updates that WhatsApp has been working on.
The platform has already been criticized in the past for its data-sharing policies as well as other bugs. WhatsApp has responded to some of these concerns by introducing new features that prioritize user privacy and security, such as end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication.
WhatsApp remains to be the most popular instant messaging service in the world, with over two billion monthly active users worldwide, surpassing WeChat and Facebook Messenger.
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WhatsApp has grown over the years to become one of the most versatile and feature-rich chat apps accessible today. WhatsApp's cross-platform compatibility is one of the key reasons for its sustained popularity.
Video Messages Soon on WhatsApp
WhatsApp is also working on a new feature that would allow users to send short video messages of up to 60 seconds to their contacts, according to WaBetaInfo.
WhatsApp users can currently only send voice notes to their contacts, but with the inclusion of video messages, they will be able to communicate emotions and expressions better.
WhatsApp has confirmed that the video messages will be end-to-end encrypted, which means that no one, including WhatsApp and any proxy provider, will be able to view the shared video conversations. Users will also be unable to save or forward video messages to other discussions, assuring greater privacy.
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