WhatsApp Soon Launching This Amazing Feature: Messages Will Auto-Delete Within 15 Minutes

WhatsApp is gearing up to introduce a new and unique privacy feature soon. With this feature, messages will automatically delete themselves approximately 15 minutes after they have been read. Let's take a closer look...

A new privacy feature is coming to WhatsApp soon, which could prove to be extremely useful for users. According to reports, WhatsApp is working on a feature tentatively named ‘After Reading.’ With the help of this feature, messages will automatically delete themselves a short while after they have been read. This information was shared by the feature tracker WABetaInfo. This feature is currently in the development stage and is not yet available to all users.

How Will the 15-Minute Auto-Delete Feature Work?

The mechanism behind this new feature is quite simple. When a user sends a message with the ‘After Reading’ option enabled, a timer will begin the moment the recipient reads the message. According to the report, this timer will run for approximately 15 minutes; once the 15 minutes are up, the message will automatically vanish from both participants' chat logs. If a message remains unread, it will persist in the chat for 24 hours before automatically deleting itself. This feature has been spotted in WhatsApp's Android beta version 2.26.12.2, though it remains in the testing phase for now.

How Beneficial Will This Feature Be for Users?

This feature will be particularly useful for individuals who frequently share sensitive information—such as OTPs, passwords, addresses, or verification codes. Currently, messages sent on WhatsApp remain in the chat until they are manually deleted or the 'Disappearing Messages' feature is utilized. However, this new feature will offer the ability to remove messages almost immediately after they are read, thereby significantly reducing the risk of private information being leaked. Notably, this feature will function even if the user has disabled ‘Read Receipts’ (i.e., the blue ticks).

Is This Feature Superior to the Existing 'Disappearing Messages' Option?

Currently, WhatsApp already offers a 'Disappearing Messages' option, allowing users to set a timer of 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days. Additionally, there is a 'View Once' feature, which allows photos, videos, and voice messages to be viewed only a single time; however, the new 'After Reading' feature is considered to be faster and more secure than all of these, as messages will vanish just a few minutes after being read. This feature is currently in the testing phase, so its official launch may take some time.