WhatsApp launches “missing messages” … and here’s what you need to know

This month, the WhatsApp platform will introduce the missing messages feature, which allows its users to automatically delete messages in chat conversations seven days after they are sent.

Any user in a one-on-one chat can turn the feature on or off, while only group admins can turn the feature on or off in a group chat.

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And according to “WhatsApp”, the deadline has been set at seven days because “it is short enough to make sure your conversations are not permanent while still giving you enough time to revert to the last conversations.”

In this regard, a spokesperson for WhatsApp said: “The shopping list or the address of a store that you visited a few days ago will be there when you need it, and then it will disappear without you. need. “

Disappearing messages must be enabled on a group or contact basis. The setting will not delete old messages, as it will only affect new messages once you enable it on either end.

The WhatsApp team had been testing the hidden messaging feature since at least October 2019, and it was available at that time for group messaging only, but the end product works for both conversations (group and individual).

The feature also works with media files, allowing users to share hidden images, videos and gif files via WhatsApp.

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When replying to a hidden message, the quoted text can remain in the chat after a period of 7 days, allowing users to view the content of the message even after it has disappeared.

If these messages are forwarded to a conversation in which the Hidden Message setting is disabled, the message will not disappear after seven days.

If the user creates a backup before the message disappears, the removable message will be included in the backup copy and will be deleted after the user restores the backup.

The company stressed that recipients of the messages will be able to save and forward the expired messages, and take a screenshot, and the sender will not be notified.

Media files that use the feature are removed from the chat, but remain on the recipient’s device if automatic download is enabled.