Popular Facebook-owned instant messaging app, WhatsApp, is working on a new exciting feature that has long been available on competitor apps. Self-destructing messages feature has been spotted on two beta versions of the app, according to WABetaInfo.
The feature allows you to send a message then set a certain period, after which the message will ‘self-destruct.’ Self-destructing has been available on Telegram for some time now and is a handy feature, especially when sharing sensitive information.
On WhatsApp, you will be able to set the expiry period of messages ranging from one hour, one day, one week, one month, or even a full year. A clock icon before the sent time will mark a WhatsApp message with a self-destruction window.
For receivers, it’s not yet clarified whether they will be able to tell if the message is self-destructing. If the implementation works similar to what Telegram has, recipients won’t be able to notice — all they will see is a normal message. Only to realize it was a self-destructing message when it’s long gone.
Since the feature is still in beta, there is no solid date when it will be available in the app’s stable version. The company typically takes its time when working on new features before they are finally rolled out to all of its 2 Billion users.
WhatsApp has been previously reported working on encryption of Google Drive Backups. There is no solid launch date for this feature, as well.
