Amid the string of controversy surrounding Meta’s move to introduce end-to-end encryption on all its messaging apps, WhatsApp is adding another privacy feature that grants users the ability to set all of their message threads to auto-delete after either 24 hours, 7 days or 90 days.
As seen above, through the new ‘Default Message Timer’ option, users will be able to set their chats to disappear after a set period of time.
As said by WhatsApp:
“WhatsApp 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 you or another person start will be set to disappear at your chosen duration, and we’ve added a new option when creating a group chat that lets you turn it on for groups you create. This new feature is optional and does not change or delete any of your existing chats.”
When users enable this option, a message will display in their chats that informs others that this is the chosen default.
“This makes clear it’s nothing personal – it’s a choice you’ve made about how you want to communicate with everyone on WhatsApp moving forward. Though of course, if you need a particular conversation to remain permanent, it’s easy to switch a chat back.”
Although Meta is currently facing various battles over its moves to encrypt all chats in Messenger and Instagram Direct, this new feature will undoubtedly be welcomed by many users.
