WhatsApp is one of the biggest messaging platforms on the planet. Encrypted end-to-end messaging is the norm and they’ve ridden the wave to the top of the pack. The Beta for WhatApp is taking a leaf out of the Snapchat playbook, now offering disappearing messages.
Like other platforms that offer similar functions, you’ll be able to send “self destructing” messages. This is to prevent them from being seen or shown to third parties at a later time.
NB. The feature does not appear to be live, even in the Beta yet. But the menus to turn this on are there, perhaps a server side change required to roll it out.
The feature is in an alpha-stage of development: it means that WhatsApp is just starting to work on it, and no ETA is available to know when the feature will be available for everyone. Be sure that WhatsApp is actively working on the feature, in order to make it perfectly work for you.
From the screenshots on WA Beta Info, the sender will have the chance to tag a message to disappear after 5 seconds or 1 hour after the recipient has read it.
Its another step towards privacy in messaging and online, but as always – approach with as much caution as you would on social media. The reality is, anything you post online may not be as private as you think.
