Whatsapp introduces default disappearing messages with multiple time durations

With a keen focus on strengthening user chat privacy and data security, Whatsapp has rolled out two distinct features wherein one will be able to decide how long the messages last with multiple time duration and default chat disappearing option.

According to Whatsapp’s official blog, 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 one or another person start will be set to disappear at the user’s chosen duration. The feature comes with a surplus for group chat modification where it lets you turn it on for groups people create. Whatsapp affirms that the new feature is optional and does not change or delete any of the user’s existing chats.

Talking about the time duration for the chats to disappear, the app has added 2 new options – 24 hours and 90 days as well as the existing option of 7 days. As per the blog, for people who choose to switch on default disappearing messages, Whatsapp will display a message in users’ chats that tells them it is the default they’ve chosen. Whatsapp users need to go in their Privacy setting and select ‘Default’ Message timer.

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The feature ensures that it’s a choice users have made about how they want to communicate with everyone on WhatsApp moving forward. Meanwhile, if one needs to keep a particular conversation permanent, they have the ability to switch a chat back and enable it.

Whatsapp, last year had launched the disappearing messages feature and more recently a way for photos and videos to immediately disappear after being viewed once. User privacy and chat security have been of umpteen focus for social networks and hence the latest development is a step in the direction to provide its users with more options to control their messages.

Whatsapp believes disappearing messages along with end-to-end encryption are two crucial features that define what it means to be a private messaging service and brings it one step closer to the feeling of an in-personal conversation.

Sneha Yadav

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