New Delhi: WhatsApp has started experimenting with the latest privacy-aimed feature that might offer users more control over disappearing messages. This upgrade will unveil a new “After Reading” option, enabling messages to disappear after the recipient reads them rather than relying on a fixed timer from the moment the message is sent.
When this feature was first unveiled, WhatsApp was developing the latest timer for Android. WhatsApp is now rolling it out to select beta testers on iOS as well. This latest option adds an extra layer of privacy by combining read-based expiry with flexible timers.
WhatsApp already proivdes the disappearing messages as a privacy feature for chats. Once it is enabled, the latest messages in the conversation are automatically going to be deleted after the selected time period. Currently, users can choose between 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.
This feature can be enabled for individual chats or set as the default for all new conversations. It is mainly designed to reduce long-term message storage and make chats feel more private.
WhatsApp is adding a read-based countdown system. Users can select an “After Reading” option while setting disappearing messages. Once allowed, messages will disappear only after the recipient opens them. Users can then choose how quickly the message should vanish after being read.
The available timer options reported to include 5 minutes, 1 hour, and 12 hours. The latest “After Reading” option is completely optional and must be allowed manually by the users who want messages to disappear once they are read.
This feature is turned off by default, so existing chats and settings remain unchanged unless users choose to activate it. WhatsApp also enables the timer to be allowed on a per-chat basis for added privacy.
