WhatsApp is planning to introduce a top-secret disappearing message system.
Currently under development, the new service will allow a message to be opened just one time by sender or receiver before it is automatically deleted.
Messages will not be stored on either phone and cannot be retrieved after being sent.
WhatsApp disappearing messages
Details on the updates were shared by tech website WeBetaInfo.com and show screenshots of the forthcoming feature.
WhatsApp currently allows disappearing messages that are automatically deleted after either one, seven or 90 days.
The new update will let sender’s put an auto-self destruct on messages after they have been seen just one time.
WhatsApp already allows this for photos and videos, but will now introduce the capability to text messages as well.
Taking screenshots of the self-deleting messages, photos and videos is blocked by the app.
Users of self-deleting messages on various apps have sidestepped screenshot blocking by using a second device to photograph the message seen on the original device.
The updates are available to the Meta-owned app’s beta users before being rolled out to the chatting app’s user base of more than 2bn people.
WhatsApp regularly updates its service and changes the options available to users. Last month it rolled out a new feature which allows users to hide their online status, which comes up when a user opens the mobile application.
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