After announcing passkey support for passwordless secure logins, WhatsApp has introduced the self-destructing audio message feature. The feature, as you might have guessed from its name, self-destructs an audio message after it has been opened once by the recipient. The feature is currently available to WhatsApp beta users on iOS and Android.
According to WABetaInfo, some WhatsApp beta users on iOS and Android are able to send self-destructing audio messages, which works the same way as sending self-destructing photos and videos with the ‘View Once' feature enabled. The View Once feature on WhatsApp was introduced in 2021, and after that, WhatsApp blocked users from taking screenshots and screen recordings of such self-destructing media.
Users may not be able to record or download self-destructing audio messages
So, since the WhatsApp self-destructing audio message feature seems like the ‘View Once' feature, the users shouldn't be able to download or record the audio message either. As per the screenshot shared by WABetaInfo, there is a ‘1' button visible that shows up next to the received audio message. The feature is visible on the WhatsApp Android beta app v2.23.22.4 and the WhatsApp iOS beta app v23.21.1.73.
It is nice to have a self-destructing audio message feature that will prevent unauthorized usage or later listening of audio messages and will act as an additional shield of privacy. For now, WhatsApp hasn't clarified or added any information regarding this self-destructing audio message feature. Moreover, there is no detail on when this feature will be made available to the public.
