Overview
- Researchers found code in the WhatsApp iOS TestFlight beta (build 26.24.10.16) showing a developing “Send as view once” long-press option for text messages.
- If released, a message sent with the option would be opened only one time by the recipient before it becomes inaccessible in the chat.
- The capability is expected to apply in one-to-one and group chats but not in Channels, where broadcast-style posts are used.
- WhatsApp appears set to prevent copying and forwarding of view-once text and is exploring blocks on screenshots and screen recording while noting such measures cannot stop someone from photographing the screen externally.
- The feature is still in development and not available to users or public beta testers; it would address a long-standing gap that led people to send temporary text as image captions and is likely to reach beta testers first when WhatsApp chooses to roll it out.