It’s no secret that apps are ‘inspired’ by their peers to make advanced features of their own. For example, Instagram stories would not exist if it weren’t for the Snapchat application, a pioneer in this type of short videos, ready to be viewed one after the other as if they were pipes. For some time, WhatsApp also did the same, this time taking inspiration from another feature of Snapchat itself.
This is the single display photos and videos. As its name suggests, it is a photo or video that can only be viewed once. The user receives the image or video in question, opens it, views it, and automatically deletes it. This system of sending images is very appropriate in situations in which we send compromised photos of which we do not want there to be a trace in the future, such as the password for our Wi-Fi or any other service.
Now, how can we send an image or video that disappears as soon as the recipient opens it? Let’s see it in detail.
Before proceeding, you must bear in mind that both the videos and the images that you send and that are for single viewing will not be stored in the internal memory of your phone, nor in that of the recipient, as is obvious. If they don’t open the photo or video within 14 days, it will disappear from the chat on its own. And finally, remember: this single display system may have a security flaw: the recipient of the image may take a screenshot. You will not be notified of what happened and whoever has received the file can share it or show it to whoever they want.
Once you have decided to send the video or the single display image, we take it from WhatsApp itself and, before sending the file, we look at the ‘1’ button that appears on the right. When you press it, the message ‘Photo set to view only once’ will appear. If you hit send, the moment the other person receives it and opens it, it will disappear without a trace.
When the person receives the photo, before opening it, no preview will be shown, they will simply see a ‘1’ inside a circle and the word ‘photo’ next to it. When you open the message you will then be able to see the image in all its glory.
