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| WhatsApp is testing single quotes for text messages |
The WhatsApp instant messaging service has begun testing a new feature to delete text messages sent by users after reading them, similar to the single viewing feature that the service currently offers for photos and videos.
In an effort by WhatsApp to give users more privacy, it offers users a one-time view feature that allows them to send photos and videos that disappear from WhatsApp chats once the recipient opens them.
The service now appears to be testing similar text messaging features, according to WABetaInfo, which is monitoring the meta-messaging service for experimental features.
The site says that WhatsApp is testing the single text display feature in the latest beta version of the service's Android app.
A one-time display of text is thought to be useful, as is the case with images and videos, because it ensures that users do not keep messages containing sensitive information once they reach their destination.
The single view feature for photos and videos prevents media from being saved to the recipient's gallery or a section of the recipient's gallery, and once the recipient has viewed it, they cannot view it again, forward, save, tag, or share it.
If the sender read flag is enabled, the sender can see if the recipient has opened an individual video or photo, and if the photo or video has not been opened within 14 days of sending, the chat media will expire.
Regarding texts, it should be noted that WhatsApp offers a feature that allows all text messages sent in a chat to be deleted after a certain time. However, the difference in the feature that the company is developing is that it allows selecting, viewing and deleting specific texts, rather than chatting with all.
According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp will allow access to the new feature via an in-app button with a traditional send icon with a lock, and since the feature is still under development, WhatsApp may change it when the feature is officially launched.
He also said that WhatsApp protects photos and videos by banning mobile phone screen photography for privacy reasons, and it is not clear if the service will apply this policy to text messages.
Those who want to try out the new features can sign up for WhatsApp on the Android beta program, and can also manually download and install the latest beta version of the app from here. You can also sign up for the iOS beta program here.