WhatsApp is in the process of developing a new privacy feature that will enable messages to auto-delete after they have been read, thereby providing users with enhanced control over their conversations.
The upcoming update introduces a timer that activates “after reading,” aimed at offering increased flexibility.
At present, WhatsApp users have the option to enable disappearing messages with predetermined timers such as 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.
Nevertheless, these timers commence immediately upon sending a message, irrespective of whether it has been read.
This feature was identified in a recent beta version of the Android app and fundamentally alters the functionality of disappearing messages.
Unlike the existing system, where messages are deleted after a fixed duration from the time they are sent, the new feature will initiate the countdown only after the recipient has opened the message.
The new feature will render disappearing messages more practical.
Preliminary testing indicates that users may have the ability to choose various deletion intervals once a message is read, including options such as five minutes, one hour, or twelve hours.
The new auto-delete feature by WhatsApp is expected to be rolled out to beta users first before a global launch.
WhatsApp is also working on interface improvements to simplify the understanding of disappearing message controls. The revamped layout is expected to distinctly differentiate traditional timers from the new read-based option.
With this update, the new timing feature will only become active after the message has been viewed.
For instance, if a user selects a five-minute limit, the message will stay accessible until it is read and will then automatically delete five minutes later.
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