WhatsApp is expanding its disappearing messages feature, which allows users to configure texts in a chat to be automatically removed after a certain amount of time has passed. According to WhatsApp, users can now turn on disappearing messages for all new one-on-one chats, ensuring that any future messages are instantly wiped from the service.
The messaging service, which is owned by Meta, also claims to be providing customers greater options for how long messages would be kept before being destroyed. Users could only choose to have messages disappear after seven days when the service was introduced in November of last year. However, in the future, you will be able to delete them after just 24 hours or 90 days.
WhatsApp, which boasts 2 billion users, said its purpose was to “connect the world privately” in a blog post announcing the move.
“There is a certain magic in just sitting down with someone in-person, sharing your thoughts in confidence, knowing you are both connecting in private and in that moment,” the blog post read.
“The freedom to be honest and vulnerable, knowing that conversation isn’t being recorded and stored somewhere forever. Deciding how long a message lasts should be in your hands.”
Disappearing messages can be turned on by default for all new individual chats by going to settings, tapping “account” then privacy and default message timer. It will not affect any existing chats.
Although the new default setting has no effect on group chats, WhatsApp says it has added a new option to enable the disappearing messages function when creating groups.
