WHATSAPP users may soon start seeing a brand new type of text in the app.
The Meta-owned chat app is developing a message that you’re only allowed to read once.
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These so-called View Once texts are designed to boost your privacy.
It means you could share something sensitive – like a WiFi password – a little more safely.
The feature isn’t live just yet, but it’s currently under development at WhatsApp.
WhatsApp usually trials new features in the beta version of the app.
This means we often hear about changes to the Meta-owned app before they go live to the world.
Just a few days ago, the WhatsApp sleuths at WABetaInfo have revealed that WhatsApp is developing View Once text messages.
That’s an upgrade on the existing View Once feature, which currently only works for images and videos.
The idea is that the feature for texts will work in much the same way.
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You’ll send a text that can only be seen once before disappearing.
It’s possible that WhatsApp will also block you from taking screenshots of View Once texts, as it already does with images and videos.
“As happens with view once images and videos, it is not possible to forward and copy view once text messages,” WABetaInfo explained.
“About screenshots, they should also be blocked but we will give you a confirmation when a future update is out.”
The feature is currently under development, which means it’s not actually available to test yet – even for beta users.
But it will eventually move into a testing phase, and then on to the general version of WhatsApp.
Sadly it’s impossible to know how long that will take – it could be weeks or even months.
If you want to have the best chance of trying new features first, you should consider joining the WhatsApp beta.
Follow our guide below to find out how.
How to get WhatsApp beta
To download WhatsApp beta for your smartphone you need to go to Google Play on your Android and search for WhatsApp.
Scroll down the page until you see “Become a Beta Tester”.
Tap the “I’m In” button and then click “Join” to confirm.
Now all you have to do is wait for the update to the beta version of the app.
Joining the WhatsApp beta on iOS is more difficult, and has limited capacity.
Follow Apple’s guide here.
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
