WhatsApp has just announced a major update. With the latest version, users can use “self-deleting messages” by default and customize the duration for each chat.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a major WhatsApp update for iOS in a statement today. He explains:
Today we're introducing a new option for 'Self-deleting messages' on WhatsApp. This lets you set all new chats to be deleted after 24 hours, 7 days or 90 days by default. Not all messages have to disappear forever.
WhatsApp: The feature is optional
According to a supplementary According to a blog post, WhatsApp users now have the option to enable the "Self-deleting messages" option for all new chats by default. If you enable this option, all new one-on-one chats that you or someone else starts will be deleted after the duration you choose. The app points out that this new feature is optional and will not change or delete any of your existing chats unless you want them to. In addition to the existing option of messages being deleted after seven days, users can now choose whether a chat should be deleted after 24 hours or 90 days.
If you choose to have your messages deleted by default, we'll show a message in your chats indicating that you've chosen this setting. This makes it clear that it's nothing personal - it's a choice you've made about how you want to communicate with everyone on WhatsApp in the future. Of course, if you want to keep a particular conversation permanently, it's easy to set this up.
“Self-deleting messages”: How it works explained briefly
WhatsApp explains how “self-deleting messages” work as follows:
- If a user does not open WhatsApp within 24 hours, seven days, or 90 days, the message will disappear from the chat. However, the message preview may still be visible in notifications until WhatsApp is opened.
- When you reply to a message, the original message will be quoted. When you reply to a self-deleting message, the quoted text may remain in the chat after the time period you choose.
- If a self-deleting message is forwarded to a chat where “Self-deleting messages” is disabled, the message will not disappear from the forwarded chat.
- If a user creates a backup before a message is automatically deleted, the self-deleting message will be included in the backup. Self-deleting messages will be deleted when a user restores a backup.
The company points out that you should only use “Self-Deleting Messages” with people you trust, as it is possible that someone:
- forward a self-deleting message or take a screenshot of it and save it before it disappears.
- Copies and saves content from the self-deleting message before it disappears.
- taking a photo of a self-deleting message with a camera or other device before it disappears.
According to Zuckerberg, the feature will be rolled out starting today. However, he did not say when all users will be able to benefit from it. Individual users may have to wait a little longer. (Photo by tashatuvango / Bigstockphoto)
