The meta-owned messaging platform, WhatsApp, has announced two new features. Both are privacy-focused and were long in work: Disappearing Messages and Multiple Durations feature. WhatsApp wrote in a blog post; “WhatsApp users will now have the option to turn on disappearing messages by default for all new chats. When enabled, all new one-on-one chats you or another person start will be set to disappear at your chosen duration, and we’ve added a new option when creating a group chat that lets you turn it on for groups you create. This new feature is optional and does not change or delete any of your existing chats.”
Read more: WhatsApp is Now Working on Global Voice Message Player Feature
WhatsApp multiple durations feature
The new multi-duration feature will let users choose the durations for disappearing messages from the existing 7 days or 24 hours and 90 days. Regarding the multiple durations feature, WhatsApp said, “For people who choose to switch on default disappearing messages, we will display a message in your chats that tells people this is the default you’ve chosen.”
The Meta-owned platform also made it clear that it’s nothing personal, and its users choose how they want to communicate with everyone on WhatsApp moving forward. Though, of course, if they need a particular conversation to remain permanent, it’s easy to switch a chat back. The multiple duration feature can be enabled from the Privacy settings section and selecting Default Message Time.
How does disappearing message works?
WhatsApp detailed the use of disappearing messages in the FAQ section. The details are as under:
- If a user doesn’t open WhatsApp in the 24-hour, seven-day, or 90-day period, the message will disappear from the chat. However, the preview of the message might still be displayed in notifications until WhatsApp is opened.
- When you reply to a message, the initial message is quoted. If you reply to a disappearing message, the quoted text might remain in the chat after the duration you select.
- If a disappearing message is forwarded to a chat with disappearing messages off, the message won’t disappear in the forwarded chat.
- If a user creates a backup before a message disappears, the disappearing message will be included in the backup. Disappearing messages will be deleted when a user restores from a backup.
Source: WhatsApp Blog
