Photos In WhatsApp Chats Will Self-Destruct If This Feature Comes To Life

Dhir Acharya - Mar 04, 2021

WhatsApp is working on a self-destructing photo feature, which could resemble the disappearing message feature. Its traces were spotted in beta updates.

WhatsApp is one of the platforms that work relentlessly to deliver new features. Last year, we saw a handful of rollouts and it seems that the company will continue to roll out more new features this year.

According to reports, the Facebook-owned messaging platform is working on a self-destructing photo feature, which could resemble the disappearing message feature. The new feature’s traces were spotted in beta updates.

WhatsApp is developing a self-destructing phot feature

WABetaInfo reported that WhatsApp was testing self-destructing images. The report wrote:

“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. The same concept from Instagram Direct.”

It’s stated in the report that if the feature actually comes to life, it will be much similar to an Instagram feature. With the self-destructing mode enabled, a photo will disappear from the chat immediately after you leave it. On Instagram, users can choose to keep the photo in the chat and view it once only.

instagram vanish mode — A similar feature on Instagram

WABetaInfo shared screenshots showing a small icon for self-destructing photos near the chatbox. The icon is next to the option to add pictures, videos, and contacts. If users turn the mode on, the picture will be removed as soon as they leave the chat. They can’t save the photo because it can be viewed only once and they can’t be exported. Users can screenshot the picture as WhatsApp hasn’t tested the screenshot detection feature yet.

In addition to this feature, the company is also working on the ability to import third-party animated stickers in countries like India, Indonesia, Brazil for Android and iOS users. With this new feature, users can create stickers using Sticker Maker and download them on the app. Once the stickers are created, the app will convert them to a webp file automatically and get them ready to be imported to WhatsApp.