WhatsApp has rolled out a fresh feature that lets users send self-destructing voice messages. Details about this service were shared in the latest press release from the company, which is owned by Meta Platforms, Inc.
The feature, named View Once, became available on December 7, 2023, and it introduces a new layer of control over voice notes in chats. With View Once, users can record a voice message and send it with the understanding that the recipient can listen only once before the message is automatically deleted. In chats, these messages carry a distinctive indicator signaling that playback is limited to a single viewing.
WhatsApp emphasizes that all private messages, including voice messages, are end-to-end encrypted by default. The company describes Play Once as another step toward strengthening communication privacy and giving users more control over how their messages are consumed after sending.
To create a self-deleting voice message, users must press and hold the microphone icon within the WhatsApp chat window. After about a second of recording, a new icon showing the number 1 appears at the bottom of the screen. Tapping that icon enables the self-destruct feature, which activates after the message has been listened to. This simple interaction design aims to balance convenience with a clear privacy signal for senders and recipients.
WhatsApp remains one of the most popular instant messaging tools worldwide, including in North America. The service’s ongoing updates, like View Once, reflect a broader industry trend toward giving users finer-tuned controls over message longevity and visibility. The company continues to position privacy-preserving features as a core part of the user experience, alongside other security measures that protect conversations across devices and platforms.
As with any new messaging capability, users should consider how View Once fits personal communication habits. Recipients may need to remember that a message can only be heard one time, and senders should be mindful of the potential impact if a recording is accidentally deleted or not fully captured before transmission. For individuals who rely on voice messages for important details, it could be prudent to follow up with a traditional message or confirmation in a separate chat to avoid miscommunication.