Kate Mills 
Dec 11, 2023
WhatsApp has reinforced its commitment to privacy and security with the global launch of View Once support for voice messages, marking another step in its ongoing efforts. This feature arrived a couple of months after being tested in the app's beta version on Android and iOS, highlighting the platform's dedication to enhancing user privacy.
The View Once functionality, initially introduced in 2021 for sending photos and videos that can only be viewed once without the ability to be saved or screenshotted, has now been extended to voice messages. Perhaps dubbed as "Listen Once," this new feature ensures that voice messages can be played only once by the recipient, displaying a "one-time" icon and self-destructing immediately after playback on the recipient's device.
This privacy-centric feature, applicable in both individual and group chats, includes end-to-end encryption. However, it's important to note that WhatsApp may access these messages if reported by users, despite the encryption.
The rollout of View Once voice messages commenced on December 7 and will progressively reach all WhatsApp users worldwide over the next few days. Both the mobile and web/PC versions of WhatsApp are set to receive this update, further solidifying the platform's commitment to user privacy and security.
