WhatsApp is currently working on the development of the new self-destructing images feature, which allows users to send photos that are automatically deleted when the user leaves the conversation.
The function, which is currently being tested in future versions of the WhatsApp ‘app’ for Android and iOS, has a similar operation to that of Instagram Direct direct messages, where the feature is already present, as reported by the specialized portal WABetaInfo, which has discovered it.
The self-destruct option can be selected in the process of submitting an image via an icon in the lower left. When pressed, it warns the user that “this file will disappear” when they leave the chat.
People who receive a self-destruct image receive a blurred thumbnail in conversations, and before opening it, they are also shown the warning message about its deletion.
Messages that self-destruct cannot be shared outside of the app, and WhatsApp has not yet implemented mechanisms to prevent users from taking screenshots while viewing them, although the feature is still in development and cannot be used yet.
