WhatsApp introduced the ‘view once’ feature in 2021, allowing users to send photos and videos that disappear after being viewed once. This provides more control over privacy, as recipients cannot keep or forward media sent this way. The view once icon is a useful visual indicator that a piece of media is set to ‘view once’ mode. But what does this icon actually look like within WhatsApp?
The View Once Icon Design
The view once icon in WhatsApp consists of the number ‘1’ inside a circle. It is displayed in the message bubble, before the text or caption of a view once photo or video.
The icon itself is simple but distinctive. The circle is thick and solid, colored white or pale gray depending on your device’s dark/light theme settings. Inside is the number 1 in bold, black text. This clearly conveys the ‘view once’ meaning at a glance.
When sending media with view once enabled, the icon appears in your message thread next to the file type indicator, e.g. a photograph or video camera symbol. You’ll see it before sending, so you know the media is set to disappear. Your recipient sees the same icon next to the media in your chat bubble.
The icon is the same whether you’re using WhatsApp on an iPhone, Android device, desktop or web. It’s standardized across all platforms for universal recognition. Tapping and holding a view once image also displays the icon, confirming its ephemeral ‘view once’ status.
When is the View Once Icon Displayed?
You will see the view once icon in a few contexts within WhatsApp:
– In your message compose box, next to media you’ve selected the ‘view once’ option for before sending. This allows confirming it is set to disappear.
– In chat bubbles next to view once photos or videos you’ve received from other users. Tapping these opens the media with the icon still visible in the viewer.
– On the preview image if you tap and hold a view once photo or video. The icon indicates the ephemeral setting.
– In your saved media if you captured a screenshot of view once content. The icon shows it originated as view once media.
– Next to text or captions you sent with view once media. The icon indicates the related media was set as view once.
So in summary, the icon appears beside both sent and received view once messages in chats, and remains tied to that content across WhatsApp.
What Happens When View Once Media is Opened?
When your recipient opens view once media you’ve sent, they’ll see the same view once icon on the image or video. This persists while they have it open.
If they take a screenshot to capture the media, the view once icon will be included in that screenshot. This reminds them (and anyone they send it to) that the original was meant to only be viewed once.
After the recipient closes view once media, WhatsApp automatically deletes it from the chat. The 1-inside-a-circle icon disappears along with the media. All that remains in the chat is your message text or caption, still marked with the view once icon.
Tapping the icon from past view once messages brings up a message indicating the media has been opened and deleted. So the icon serves as a permanent record in chat history of media being sent as view once.
Why Was the View Once Icon Needed?
WhatsApp introduced the view once icon to help indicate the unique nature of these ephemeral messages in a clear yet discreet way. Without an indicator, view once media looks the same as any other message until opened. This could lead to confusion for users sending and receiving view once items.
The icon solves that by persistently labeling view once media as such. It allows senders to confirm media is set to view once before sending. Recipients can identify the message type at a glance and understand context.
The icon also serves an important role after view once media is opened. If recipients screenshot the media, the icon makes it obvious the original was meant to only be viewed once. And it continues marking related chat messages.
So in summary, WhatsApp added the dedicated view once symbol to:
– Allow senders to confirm media is set as view once
– Let recipients identify view once media and understand context
– Visually indicate screenshots are of originally ephemeral content
– Permanently label related chat messages after media deletion
This provides clarity around view once messaging and media for optimal user experience.
The Purpose of View Once Messaging
Before delving more into the view once icon, it helps to understand why WhatsApp introduced view once media at all.
This ephemeral messaging feature gives users more control over their privacy. Media set as view once disappears after the recipient opens it once. They cannot keep, share, or forward that media.
Here are the main purposes view once messaging serves:
– Increased privacy and control. Recipients can’t copy or spread your media without consent.
– Confidence to share more freely. You can share fun, silly, or personal moments without worry.
– Reduced digital clutter. View once auto-deletes media after viewing, keeping chat history tidy.
– Added intimacy and trust. The ephemeral nature can make conversations feel more private and authentic.
– Enhanced security. Disappearing messages limit evidence and traces online.
– Safety from mistakes. No risk of unintended sharing of sensitive media if set to view once.
The ability to have media vanish after being viewed provides peace of mind. This liberates sharing while maintaining privacy. The view once icon is a key indicator this special messaging mode is enabled.
View Once Media File Types
WhatsApp’s view once feature applies to photos and videos. When enabled on:
– Photos: Recipients can open and view the image once before it disappears from chat.
– Videos: Recipients can play the video once through to the end before it deletes.
– Long videos: Even if viewing is paused partway, videos longer than 5 minutes will still delete after being opened.
– GIFs and images within e-tickets: Like photos, these can only be viewed once.
The view once icon always indicates this type of ephemeral media behavior. It does not apply to text messages, voice notes, documents, or other WhatsApp file types – only photos and videos. Media must be set to view once individually per message.
Enabling View Once on Media
It’s simple to make media disappear after being viewed once in WhatsApp:
**iOS**
1. Open an individual or group chat.
2. Tap the + icon to select a photo or video to send.
3. In the compose box, tap and hold the send button. A menu pops up.
4. Tap ‘View Once’ to enable it. The view once icon appears on the media thumbnail.
5. Tap send and your view once media will have the disappearing icon before and after sending.
**Android**
1. Open an individual or group chat.
2. Tap the attachment clip icon to select a photo or video.
3. In the compose box, tap and hold the send button. A menu appears.
4. Tap ‘View once’ to turn it on. The view once icon shows on the media.
5. Tap send and your ephemeral media will have the icon next to it.
**Desktop**
1. Open a chat and click the paperclip icon to select a photo or video.
2. Check the box next to ‘View once’ below the media thumbnail to enable it.
3. The view once icon will appear on the thumbnail indicating it is set to disappear.
4. Hit send and the recipient will see the icon next to your ephemeral media.
The process is quick and easy. Simply toggling view once on or off applies this behavior to media before sending. The ever-present icon lets you confirm view once is enabled.
Limitations of View Once
While view once provides more privacy control over media, there are still some limitations to be aware of:
– **Screenshots** – Recipients can still take screenshots or screen recordings to capture view once media before it disappears. The screenshot retains the view once icon indicating the media was ephemeral.
– **Backups** – iOS and Android devices may automatically back up photos saved from view once messages to cloud storage, keeping copies after deletion.
– **Forwarding** – On iOS, users can forward view once images and videos before opening them. This bypasses the auto-delete for original recipients.
– **No self-destruct** – Unlike disappearing standard messages, senders cannot manually delete or recall view once media once it’s sent.
– **Group chats** – In groups, other members may still see messages quoted with text from your view once media, even after deletion.
So while helpful for privacy, view once media should not be considered 100% secure. Additional precautions like blocked screenshots may still be warranted for sensitive content. The icon cannot prevent all possible methods of preservation.
The Benefits of Knowing View Once Media
There are useful benefits in being able to quickly recognize media set to view once through WhatsApp’s distinctive icon:
– Avoid confusion if media unexpectedly disappears after opening. The icon indicates why.
– Identify when to open media carefully. Recipients may opt to view in more private, controlled settings due to its ephemeral nature.
– View mindfully and avoid reflexively screenshotting. The icon serves as a reminder to respect the sender’s privacy intentions.
– Understand context and tone. View once can imply a more vulnerable, personal sharing moment from the sender.
– Appreciate sender’s trust. View once shows they feel able to comfortably share fleeting moments without worry of retention.
– Share consciously in response. You can choose ephemeral view once in kind to continue the trusted exchange.
The icon thus improves understanding and enhances privacy for all involved. Users can shape their view once messaging habits in better alignment.
Troubleshooting View Once Issues
If issues arise with view once functionality, check:
– **Media files** – Corrupted or incompatible formats may not load or play to allow single viewing. Reselect and resend valid image, video and GIF options.
– **Connection issues** – Laggy or weak internet connections can disrupt sending, loading and deleting of view once media. Ensure you and recipients have reliable connections.
– **Unsupported storage** – External storage on Android does not support view once deletion. Media must be stored internally or on SD card. Move files to compatible locations.
– **App issues** – Update to the latest WhatsApp version on your device and check for any known bugs with view once. Reinstall the app if necessary.
– **Device settings** – Toggle iPhone camera settings or Android developer options on/off if preventing auto-deletion of view once media.
– **Group settings** – Only group admins can enable view once and other disappearing message durations in group chats.
– **Quotations** – Other members quoting view once text in groups can inadvertently retain traces. This is expected WhatsApp behavior.
Conclusion
WhatsApp’s view once symbol lets users identify ephemeral media at a glance. The icon of a 1 inside a circle universally indicates a message is set to disappear after being opened once.
It appears reliably within WhatsApp across sent and received view once photos, videos, GIFs and images. This brings added context to conversations and clarity around the privacy-focused functionality.
While useful for discreet sharing, the icon also reminds users to be ethical. Screenshots should only be taken consensually. Situational awareness from the icon ultimately enables more trusted, intimate exchanges.