WhatsApp has started testing the feature of automatically deleting messages within a certain period of time after being read on the iOS side. The feature, which has been developed in the Android application since last month, has now appeared in the beta version released for iPhone users. According to the information shared by WABetaInfo, the innovation in question was seen in the 26.19.10.72 beta version of WhatsApp prepared for iOS. Thanks to the feature, users can predetermine how long it will take to delete sent messages after they are read. Thus, unlike the classical disappearing message system, the deletion process begins as soon as the message is read.
The new system is activated through the “After read” option in the “Default message scheduler” section in WhatsApp settings. Users can specify three different durations here: 5 minutes, 1 hour or 2 hours. When the message is read by the other party, the selected time starts and the message is automatically deleted after the time expires. However, if the message is never read, the system uses a different timing. Unread messages are automatically removed 24 hours after sending.
In WhatsApp’s current disappearing message system, the time calculation started from the moment the message was sent. With the new feature, this approach changes and whether the message is actually viewed or not is taken into account. This may offer a more controlled use, especially for users who want to share information for short periods of time. In addition, it is aimed to prevent sensitive content from remaining on the chat screen for longer than necessary.
WhatsApp allows automatic deletion of messages from both devices
The way the feature works includes not only the receiver’s side, but also the sender’s device. According to the system tested by WhatsApp, the message is automatically removed from the sender’s device when the selected period of time expires. For example, a message sent at 10:00 in the morning and using the “5 minutes after read” setting is deleted on the sending device at 10:05. If the recipient opens the message at 10.10, the message on his device automatically disappears at 10.15. On the other hand, if the message is never opened, it is removed from both parties at the same time the next day.
WhatsApp continues to increase its privacy-focused tools recently. The platform had previously introduced photos and videos that could be viewed once, and then added innovations such as chat lock and advanced privacy settings. The newly tested system can be used especially in individual and group chats where temporary information is shared. In addition, the approach based on the reading time of messages offers a more flexible experience than the current disappearing message system.
It is stated that for now the feature is only available to a limited number of iOS beta users. In addition, the development process on the Android side continues. An official date has not yet been shared as to when WhatsApp will offer the feature to all users. However, ongoing testing on both Android and iOS versions shows that the feature’s wide availability may not be far away.
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