WhatsApp View Once feature: What youngsters need to know about it

Youngsters of today are drawn towards technology and it’s natural for them to be especially interested in any new advancement. The thrill of exploring new features while staying connected to peers seems exciting to them. So, it’s not surprising that WhatsApp has now become an indispensable part of every student’s life. For them, it is not only a great medium for interpersonal communication, but it also gives students the benefit to access WhatsApp groups and chats on one device, share and pick up information efficiently. Class schedules, reading material, exam timelines, and assignment details can all be shared easily through this messaging app.   

WhatsApp has recently launched a new feature View Once for its beta users on android. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and WhatsApp’s Will Cathcart were the first to confirm this new feature. With the beta version supporting the new feature and the stable users receiving messages via the new View Once mode, an official rollout can be expected soon. 

What is View Once? 
‘View Once’ is a feature that allows users to send a video or image to a recipient that can be viewed only once. Snapchat, which had a core feature where media shared via posts was deleted after a certain amount of time, popularized this feature. 

How does WhatsApp View Once work? 
The new feature involves a small view once button next to where the message is previewed. After a video or image gets shared, the recipient will only have one chance to view it. The sender can see the status of the message: Delivered, opened, or seen. The latest feature also works on groups.  

The media shared with this feature on groups can only be viewed once by each member of the group. The sender can view the status of the sent messages by clicking on the view info option. Even blocked contacts can interact with the user within groups. 

WhatsApp View Once does come with a few flaws since it is still in the beta version. There is no screenshot detection or a notification for the same possible on the app yet. The new feature is rolling out to beta users for Android 2.21.14.3, according to media reports. If you're on this version of the beta and don't see the feature yet, it may be added in a future update. The feature will be available to iOS Beta users soon, according to the report.