Telegram is introducing ‘view-once’ voice and video messages

Telegram has announced one-time-view audio and video messages, similar to its main rival, the Meta-owned messenger WhatsApp.

Back in September last year, Telegram introduced a view-once media setting on one-on-one chats, where users could choose how long their photo or video would be visible after opening – from ‘view once’ to 30 seconds.

Now, in its January updates pack, the 10-year-old instant messaging platform is bringing the feature to voice and video messages.

To create a ‘view-once’ voice and video message, one can tap the microphone icon in a chat to start recording, and then pull up to tap on the “view-once” icon.

“Both voice and video messages can now be sent as view-once – after being played one time, the message is automatically deleted,” Telegram said in a social media announcement.

Other updates Telegram has rolled out in the latest updates are the ability to pause and resume recording for both voice and video messages and the ability to see when a message has been read in one-on-one private chats.

Additionally, Premium users will now have the ability to hide their read time but still be able to view someone else’s read time if it is made public.

Subscribers are now able to select who can send them messages first; “Everyone” or “My Contacts and Premium Users.”