WhatsApp Update: Messages Will Self-Delete After Being Read

WhatsApp is set to launch an “After Reading” feature soon, allowing users to determine how long after a message is read it should automatically delete itself. This feature will offer time options such as 5 minutes, 1 hour, and 12 hours.

WhatsApp is constantly introducing new features for its users, and the company is now preparing an update that will completely transform the messaging experience. This new feature is named “After Reading,” under which messages will automatically delete themselves—though this time, the user gets to decide exactly when.

What is the New “After Reading” Feature?

According to reports, this WhatsApp feature is currently in the development stage. This information was shared by WABetaInfo. Through this feature, users will be able to configure exactly how long after a message is read it should automatically disappear. In other words, even after sending a message, you will retain full control over how long the recipient is able to view it.

Available Time Options

Users will have access to several time options within the “After Reading” feature—such as 5 minutes, 1 hour, or 12 hours. Upon selecting one of these options, the message will automatically vanish once the specified time interval has elapsed after it has been read.

Previous “Disappearing Messages” Feature

WhatsApp has previously introduced a “Disappearing Messages” feature, wherein messages would automatically delete themselves after a certain number of days. However, the new “After Reading” feature is far more advanced, as it allows the user to personally set the deletion time.

When Will It Be Available to Users?

This feature will first be released for beta testing and will subsequently become available to all users in the stable version of the app. This WhatsApp update is being hailed as a significant step toward further strengthening user privacy and security.