Last year, WhatsApp added the option to send disappearing messages, allowing users to select the chats they don’t want to save. The Meta-owned messaging app now allows you to choose the disappearing messages option as the default, expanding the functionality of this feature. Not only that, but you may even select different timeframes for this feature, stretching up to 90 days.
New WhatsApp Disappearing Message Features Added
All of your new WhatsApp chats will by default be in disappearing mode thanks to the Default Disappearing Messages feature. The messages disappear after a predetermined amount of time whenever you communicate with someone for the first time. This also applies to brand-new group conversations. You can activate the mechanism of disappearing messages while creating a new group.
WhatsApp will display a message on each chat when the disappearing messages mode is enabled by default to let users know that this setting has been selected. It is to make it clear that you choose the function and the app did not force you to use it.
It’s important to keep in mind that you can always turn this off. Additionally, you have the choice of choosing who you want to send disappearing messages to. You can always turn off the feature in each chat’s settings if you wish to preserve their existing chats. Remember that you may activate or deactivate this function by going to any conversation of your choosing, tapping on the person’s name, and choosing the Disappearing messages option.
Additionally, two new duration choices for messages that vanish have been included. Now, you can choose between 24 hours and 90 days for the period. According to the decision you make, the messages will vanish either after 24 hours or 90 days. These two alternatives are in addition to WhatsApp’s current 7-day option.
Go to Settings -> Account -> Privacy -> Default message timer and select your duration to enable the disappearing messages option by default.
WhatsApp also emphasises a few things you need to be aware of.
- It is revealed that this mode isn t for older messages.
- If you do not open the disappearing message after the set time duration, it will automatically vanish, although, it might stay in the notification panel if not removed.
- Forwarding a disappearing message (if the mode is disabled on your phone), won t delete the WhatsApp message.
- If a disappearing message is backed up before it vanishes, the backup will stay.
- When a disappearing message is quoted, the quote will also stay within the chat.
The new functionalities are now being made available to Android users, although as you can see above, there are many privacy restrictions. We were unable to access the features on iOS, but perhaps this is because everyone will eventually have access to them. Can you use the updated WhatsApp features? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
