Facebook’s disappear mode on Messenger and Instagram allows you to send messages that disappear

The latest version of Facebook on a Snapchat signature feature is coming today and is called disappear mode. First announced as part of its big September Messenger redesign, Vanish Mode is a pop-up messaging mode for Facebook Messenger and Instagram that will let you send texts, photos, voice messages, emoji, and more. stickers that immediately disappear once viewed. by other parties and the chat window is closed.

Some users may have already noticed Vanish Mode in Messenger’s chat settings, as Facebook has been slowly rolling it out to some users since the redesign was announced two months ago. And on Instagram, some elements of disappear mode are already part of the basic direct messaging feature set, including disappearing photos and videos after media has been viewed. Disappearance mode is similar to Messenger’s existing secret chat mode which allows you to enter an end-to-end encrypted chat that is only saved on your device, although the new mode is designed to delete anything that is sent forever once it has been accessed.

Image: Facebook

For Facebook, ephemeral messaging is still a way to attract young smartphone users who have flocked to chat apps and platforms where they don’t have to post publicly and risk being haunted by posts on. social media later in life. While Snapchat popularized pop-up messaging among American teens with Stories and its DM design, Facebook has since adopted many of its rival’s features and implemented them in Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp for users across all groups. age around the world.

Vanish Mode is just Facebook’s latest take on trending and a notable addition considering CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced last year that his company will be strategically dropping newsfeed and public posts and more to private messaging and groups.

Disappearance mode will appear in both apps as a separate option that you can turn on and off in the settings of any particular chat message or group thread. You can also access the mode by sliding your finger across a chat window. The mode will then turn on disappearing messages and other chat interactions, with the option to turn it off located at the top of the chat window or by swiping down again.

Facebook says the mode will be opt-in only, which means you must agree to enter disappear mode once another user in the chat or group activates it. Messenger and Instagram will also notify you when a screenshot of a chat is taken while the mode is on. Facebook says you can report individuals for conducting chat in Vanish Mode, although it is not clear to what extent Facebook will be able to investigate violations.

Vanish Mode is expected to be available for Messenger in the United States as well as other countries from today, Facebook says. And it will be uploaded to Instagram in the US and other countries at a later date.