WhatsApp mimics Snapchat and tests self-destruction of images

March 3, 2021 Joe Kenehan

As you probably know, WhatsApp has been going through a rough patch for some time. The cause ? Users are worried about the app’s new privacy policy. And they are right, WhatsApp is about to share some of your data with Facebook. Despite everything, these new conditions of use will not be in effect until May 15, 2021.

While waiting for this fateful date (and another exodus of users to the competition), Facebook continues to enhance WhatsApp with new features. After integrating two big novelties in November 2020, WhatsApp is now inspired by Snapchat by integrating a self-destruction function of images.

Indeed, our colleagues from the WABetaInfo site discovered that this functionality was currently in the testing phase. According to them, an icon will appear at the bottom left of each image before you share it. By clicking on it, several choices will be available to you. You will be able to assign a lifetime to your image once it is viewed or you can request that the image be deleted after the recipient (s) have left the conversation.

Credit: WABetaInfo

Finally anti-screenshot security

In addition, it will be impossible for the recipients to download the photo to their smartphone. In addition, it is imperative to click on the image to see its content, WhatsApp having chosen to cancel the preview function. Finally, and this is a rather essential point, WhatsApp intends to support this function with an anti-screen security. Anyone who has used Snapchat knows that it was the ultimate weapon to overcome the ephemerality of messages.

At this time, we have no information regarding the deployment of this functionality to users. Hopefully, however, it will be integrated in the coming weeks. It should also be remembered that the instant messaging service has already equipped itself with a self-destruction function for written messages.

As a reminder, many features landed on WhatsApp in 2020. The application, for example, has a tool to fight against fake news, which allows users to learn about the origins of information. In addition, it is also possible to add a contact via a QR Code, or to take advantage of animated stickers to embellish your conversations.

WhatsApp is working on self-destructing photos in a future update for iOS and Android.
• Self-destructing photos cannot be exported from WhatsApp.
• WhatsApp didn’t implement a screenshot detection for self-destructing photos yet.

Same concept from Instagram Direct. ⏱ pic.twitter.com/LLsezVL2Hj

– WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) March 3, 2021