WhatsApp voice notes can now be self-destructed in 3… 2 …1… Booooomb

WhatsApp voice notes can now self-destruct in 3 … 2 …

Imagine you’re Ethan Hunt. You’ve just landed on a busy New York City street using a paraglider. Your phone suddenly beeps, so you take it out of your pocket and open WhatsApp, finding a single voice note waiting for you.

You hit play and it says, “This message will self-destruct in five seconds.”

Alright, it seems we went a bit overboard with the earlier scenario, but something along those lines might soon be possible on WhatsApp. According to WaBetaInfo, the company is in the process of introducing a “view once” mode for voice notes.

Also Read | Passwordless passkey now available on WhatsApp for Android

Here’s how it works: When you’re recording a voice note, a new “view once” icon will appear in the chat bar. If you tap on it, you’ll activate the “view once” mode. As a result, the recipient can only listen to the voice note once. They won’t have the ability to export, forward, save, or even record it. Interestingly, you won’t be able to listen to it again either after sending it.

To spot the icon, you’ll need to initiate the voice note recording by tapping and then sliding your finger upwards to lock into the recording mode. That’s how you’ll access the “view once” feature.

As of now, the feature is accessible to a select group of beta testers on both iOS and Android platforms. According to WaBetaInfo, it is expected to become available to a wider user base in the days to come.

Also Read | Using two WhatsApp accounts at the same time is now possible

WhatsApp has indeed been quite active lately, introducing a range of new features. They now allow users with dual SIM cards to log into two WhatsApp accounts simultaneously. Additionally, they’ve introduced passkey logins on Android, a HD setting for sending high-quality photos and videos, and even an AI sticker generator. These enhancements are making the platform even more versatile and user-friendly.