Facebook’s messaging service WhatsApp Thursday introduced a ‘disappearing message’ feature that deletes messages after seven days.
To make use of the feature, users have to enable it by tapping on a contact’s name.
Announcing the feature, WhatsApp wrote in its blog, “Today, WhatsApp messages often live on our phones forever. While it’s great to hold onto memories from friends and family, most of what we send doesn’t need to be everlasting. Our goal is to make conversations on WhatsApp feel as close to in-person as possible, which means they shouldn’t have to stick around forever. That’s why we’re excited to introduce the option to use disappearing messages on WhatsApp.”
“We’re starting with 7 days because we think it offers peace of mind that conversations aren’t permanent, while remaining practical so you don’t forget what you were chatting about,” says a WhatsApp spokesperson. “The shopping list or store address you received a few days ago will be there while you need it, and then disappear after you don’t.”
Disappering messages has been among the most spotted WhatsApp features on the beta app.
The company has been testing this feature for months on the WhatsApp beta app for Android and iOS.
Disappearing messages is now rolling out for the public worldwide across Android and iOS devices starting today.
The feature will definitely be handy for the ones who are a part of multiple WhatsApp groups and are bombarded with messages on a daily basis.
Disappearing messages will also wipe out photos and videos after seven days, and while messages will disappear for both parties it’s still possible to take screenshots or just simply copy messages before they’re automatically deleted.
