The new functionality of WhatsApp consists of applying the principle of ephemeral voice messages that members of the instant messaging exchange exchange. The audio, once played, becomes inaccessible.
You knew about ephemeral messages, which disappear after a while. Now is the time for one-time voice messages. In a progress update on December 7, WhatsApp announced the arrival of this feature, which will undoubtedly appeal to younger generations – who are those who show the greatest appetite for this type of audio exchange.
With this option, you can record a message which will then be played only once on the correspondent’s terminal. He will therefore have to pay close attention to what is said, because it will be impossible to read the file again. Instant messaging considers it to be a solution suitable for the most sensitive or very punctual messages.
Only one listening allowed
This feature provides an increased level of confidentiality, since the audio is destroyed immediately afterwards. However, it should be kept in mind that there are circumstances in which the message could be preserved. A parallel recording, at the time of the first broadcast, can be made with a dictaphone. An unusual scenario, but not impossible.
This new option remains covered by end-to-end encryption by default, meaning that no one outside of the people in the conversation can normally access it. Not even Meta, the parent company of messaging. The combination of this protection with the brevity of the single listening radically limits the risk of leakage.
Conversely, harmful use towards a third party will be less easy to demonstrate: how, in fact, can ephemeral vocals be used as proof of harassment, for example, if said content is no longer readable after the first listen? It will probably be necessary to record the following, to trap the harasser, if he sends them to the channel.
The deployment will take place over the next few years and throughout the world. The ephemeral written messages have been in place since the end of 2020. The service options have been expanded over time. It is also possible to use the function to address temporary files, starting with photos that will only be seen for a brief moment.
If you liked this article, you will like the following: don’t miss them by subscribing to Numerama on Google News.