WhatsApp rolls out View Once feature, immediately buried by Telegram

Telegram was not impressed when someone suggested they should have a similar feature...

What you need to know

• WhatsApp has finally rolled out its View Once feature to all users.
• It will let people send photos and videos that can only be viewed once before they disappear, just like Snapchat.
• Rival Telegram was not impressed when someone suggested they should have a similar feature...

WhatsApp has finally rolled out its new View Once feature to all users after a period of testing, the company has announced.

Overnight WhatsApp confirmed the news stating:

New feature alert!

You can now send photos and videos that disappear after they've been opened via View Once on WhatsApp, giving you more control over your chats privacy!

We did, in 2017. https://t.co/YKSprtOA6X

— Telegram Messenger (@telegram) August 4, 2021

The feature, as you might expect, lets people send photos and videos via WhatsApp that can only be viewed once before they disappear forever, just like Snapchat.

Rival messaging app Telegram couldn't resist the opportunity for a dig when one comment tagged them in the announcement stating they should consider a similar feature:

well @telegram,i think you should think about it. :D

— Ciro Pellegrino (@ciropellegrino) August 4, 2021

Telegram simply replied, "We did, in 2017."

WhatsApp has confirmed it has other big plans for the app, including multiple device support and support for Apple's iPad. From previous reports:

Arguably the biggest announcement was support for multiple devices, Zuckerberg said it was a big challenge but was on the way, and that WhatsApp planned to roll out multiple device support in a public beta within two months.

From questions, the pair confirmed that multiple devices will support up to four linked devices. They also said they are planning to expand the iOS WhatsApp beta, and most excitingly of all, they confirmed multiple device support would pave the way for WhatsApp on iPad. It would also mean better synchronization with WhatsApp on Mac, which is one of the best messaging apps for Mac currently available.

View Once is now available to WhatsApp users on iOS, but you might need to update your app first!