WhatsApp is building a self-destructing photo feature

WhatsApp is testing photos that self-delete when a user leaves the chat, though others can still screen capture the images currently. — Bloomberg

WhatsApp is building a new feature to enable users to send photos that will delete themselves once users are done chatting.

Tipster site WABetaInfo tweeted that this feature, self-destructing photos, would be triggered only after the user leaves the chat.

It added that the feature would work similarly to Instagram Direct Messaging’s disappearing photos feature, and would also prevent others from exporting the photos.

WhatsApp is working on self-destructing photos in a future update for iOS and Android. • Self-destructing photos cannot be exported from WhatsApp. • WhatsApp didn't implement a screenshot detection for self-destructing photos yet. Same concept from Instagram Direct. pic.twitter.com/LLsezVL2Hj — WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) March 3,2021

However, WABetaInfo noted that the messaging service had not yet implemented a screenshot detection system.

This meant that though other users in a WhatsApp chat cannot download the image, they could still take a screenshot.

Unlike this feature, the Instagram version warns users if someone took a screenshot. This feature makes it less easy to share images without the original user’s consent.

WhatsAppBetaInfo said the feature would be rolled out for both Android and iOS users, though no timeline was revealed.

Messaging service competitor Telegram also has a similar function called Disappearing Media, which works for both photos and videos.