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WhatsApp disappearing messages: How to auto-erase chat in 7 days

WhatsApp notifications suddenly not showing on iPhone
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WhatsApp just announced a life-changing feature for its users. The official WhatsApp account tweeted, Introducing disappearing messages. Now you can set chats to disappear after 7 days. Because not all messages need to stick around forever.” The feature is likely to become available for all users after the newest update. The disappearing messages feature introduced by WhatsApp will be life-saving for many users who do not want to keep old messages that remind them of unnecessarily painful times. Now you can make old chats disappear in 7 days!

WhatsApp introduces disappearing messages

This feature will allow users to eliminate the digital footprint of messages they do not like. Users will be able to set an option for each individual chat they are in, this feature will be applicable on group chats as well as one-on-one personal chats. “We’re starting with seven days because we think it offers peace of mind that conversations aren’t permanent while remaining practical so you don’t forget what you were chatting about. The shopping list or store address you received a few days ago will be there while you need it, and then disappear after you don’t”, the company stated in a blog-spot.

“While it’s great to hold on to memories from friends and family, most of what we send doesn’t need to be everlasting. Our goal is to make conversations on WhatsApp feel as close to in-person as possible, which means they shouldn’t have to stick around forever”, the post reads.

This feature is already available on several other applications including Signal and Telegram. This new feature will be available all across WhatsApp-supported devices by the end of November. These devices include Android, iOS, and Linux-based KaiOS devices, in addition to WhatsApp Web and Desktop platforms.

How to erase messages?

You can enable this feature by tapping on the chat name that appears at the top of your screen. Next, you are to scroll down till you see a new option labeled “disappearing messages”, you should tap on this option to switch it on. Once you have enabled this feature, messages will disappear. However, this feature will not delete older messages, and the other person can also switch the feature off. In group chats, only administrators can use this feature.

According to WhatsApp’s official website, after enabling this feature when you will reply to a message, the initial message will appear to be quoted. If you reply to a disappearing message, the quoted text might still appear in the chat for the next seven days. However, people can still take screenshots and keep the text messages even after the disappearing messages feature has been enabled.

Remember the painful texts your ex sent? Maybe it is time to let them go. In the words of C. JoyBell, “You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason that they are heavy. So let them go, let go of them. I tie no weights to my ankles.”

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About the author

Saman Iqbal

Saman is a law student. She enjoys writing about tech, politics and the world in general. She's an avid reader and writes fictional prose in her free time.







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