WhatsApp rolls out disappearing messages feature, this is how it works

The app's disappearing messages feature has been improved, according to the company. New chats, including groups, can now have their messages disappear in 24 hours or 90 days, depending on the user's preference.

"When enabled, all new one-on-one chats you or another person start will be set to disappear at your chosen duration, and we’ve added a new option when creating a group chat that lets you turn it on for groups you create," META CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on Monday.

At first, users could only set the duration to seven days.

This is true for both iOS and Android, and the setting you choose will be applied to all of your WhatsApp devices, including the web, Windows 11, and iPad.

For all new chats, WhatsApp users will now have the option to turn on disappearing messages by default.

The feature is still being rolled out to devices, however, you can find it by going to Settings > Privacy > Disappearing Messages and selecting one of three timers for the expiration.

While other apps like Signal, ICQ, and Telegram have had the feature for some time, the new feature in Whatsapp restores some trust--especially for those who send risky messages.

Take for instance, brother Ocholla, who sent a very racy text about the "Big Os' to a prayer cell group and could not delete it. 

Although the incident happened six years ago, it still reverberates with Whatsapp users locally, especially when similar messages keep trending every so often. 

Another Kenyan man, only identified as Baba Gloria on Twitter, where he trended for three days after sending a pornographic message to a funeral planning group in late October 2021, is another reminder of how a single message can turn your life upside down.

With the new feature however, you can loosen that  belt of seriousness- that little mistake can disappear in an hour, or whatever duration blows your skirt.