WhatsApp now lets users turn on disappearing messages by default

WhatsApp now allows you to make your messages disappear for all new chats. This is a feature that means all the messages sent in the conversation will disappear after a while, allowing the company to choose between a day, a week, or three months.

When you enable disappearing messages for chat, all messages in that chat will be deleted at the specified time. This happens even if the message is not opened before the expiration date. Also, there are some exceptions.

If WhatsApp does not open depending on your operating system, a deleted message will appear in the notification preview. Quoted messages will appear in quotes and deleted messages forwarded to another chat will not be deleted.

WhatsApp Disappearing Messages

This feature is now available on iOS and Android. It can be enabled by opening the WhatsApp settings and navigating to Account> Privacy> Default Message Timer.

WhatsApp claims that deleted messages are not foolproof and should only be used by a truly trusted party as far as privacy is concerned. As mentioned, forwarding the message is a concern, but taking a screenshot, capturing the message with another phone camera, or copying and pasting the message into the Notes app.

This is a problem with other apps that feature momentary messaging, such as Snapchat, but those apps send screenshot alerts to the other party to take a screenshot.

Disappearing messages are set by default for all new chats or can be started manually in existing chats – both individual and group. The notification alerts participants when the feature is online.