WHATSAPP is testing a huge change to its disappearing messages feature.
The feature currently lets you set WhatsApp to automatically unsend texts after a certain period of time.
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This deletes the message from your phone, and the device of any recipients too.
But a new change to the feature would let you exempt specific texts from being deleted.
It was spotted by the WhatsApp sleuths at WABetaInfo, who regularly mine the app for upcoming features.
The latest change appeared in the Google Play WhatsApp beta – a test version of the app to trial new features on Android.
WhatsApp currently lets you unsend texts manually within certain time periods.
But WhatsApp also has a feature that will automatically delete texts after a set amount of time has passed.
The new feature lets you “keep this message”, preventing it from being automatically deleted.
It’s a clever option as you might want to retain some messages, while unsending most others.
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There’s also an option to “unkeep” a message, which reverses this decision.
Of course, WhatsApp might take months to send this new feature live to the world.
And it’s entirely possible that the change is scrapped before it ever makes it to the final version of WhatsApp.
It’s not even available to beta testers yet – it’s still “under development” in the app.
How to send WhatsApp disappearing messages
So how to do you activate WhatsApp disappearing messages today?
Open your app on mobile and then go into Settings > Account > Privacy.
Look for Disappearing Messages and then set the toggle to the On position.
Then choose a time period for messages to disappear – 24 hours, 7 days or 90 days.
A message will appear in the chat confirming that Disappearing Messages has been turned on.
To enable it on an existing chat, you need to archive and then unarchive it first.
You can also enable Disappearing Messages on specific chats by tapping into the individual settings of a WhatsApp contact.
The system isn’t fool-proof, of course.
If someone screenshots or records your chat, there’s no way to remove that content from their phone using an official WhatsApp feature.
As always, the best way to keep embarrassing or regrettable content off the internet is to not post it in the first place.
But if you’re particularly worried, using Disappearing Messages is a great system to use.
Remember: only texts sent after you activate Disappearing Messages will be deleted. It won’t go back in time and scrub old missives for you.
Texts also won’t be deleted in other chats that they’ve been forwarded to.
And Disappearing Messages will still be stored in a recipient’s back-up – but will be deleted when that user restores from the back-up.
Message quoting may also cause text to remain in a chat, even though the original message has been deleted.
How to get WhatsApp beta
To download WhatsApp beta for your smartphone you need to go to Google Play on your Android and search for WhatsApp.
Scroll down the page until you see “Become a Beta Tester”.
Tap the “I’m In” button and then click “Join” to confirm.
Now all you have to do is wait for the update to the beta version of the app.
Joining the WhatsApp beta on iPhone is more difficult, and has limited capacity.
Follow Apple’s guide here.
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
