WhatsApp is developing a new disappearing messages feature that would allow you to send self-destructing messages after a set period of time. The new feature first appeared in version 2.19.275 of the Android app, but WABetaInfo, who first discovered the feature, notes that it might not be available to everyone on the beta just yet.
Disappearing messages has several uses especially for anyone who needs to send a sensitive piece of information that they don’t want to be permanently available, we know you are all thinking it, yes you will be able to send your nudes in peace. We’ve previously seen the feature used by the messaging apps like Snapchat and Telegram, which lets you send self-destructing messages. Gmail also added a similar feature in its redesign last year.
Currently, WhatsApp’s disappearing messages feature implementation looks a lot more basic, although WABetaInfo notes that it’s currently early in development and is likely to be subject to change. In its current form, WhatsApp lets you set messages to delete after either 5 seconds or an hour (there’s no in-between), and the feature also only appears to be available in group chats, where you have to commit to having every message sent in the chat deleted after a set period of time.
WABetaInfo doesn’t have any details on when the disappearing messages feature might be available for everyone, or what capabilities it will eventually have. But the promise of a little bit more security in the world’s most popular messaging app is no bad thing.
We think security is very paramount and it looks like the Facebook owned company is also stepping up its game. So, with what we have seen coming in the pipeline, do you think you will be using this feature once its officially launched? Leave us a comment below and tell us how you feel.
