14 DAY TRIAL // Options to automatically remove messages have been around for a while in Telegram secret chats, and earlier this year, we learned that WhatsApp might be working on similar functionality for its iOS and Android clients.
But as it turns out, the originally-called “Disappearing Messages” option would only make it to group chats in WhatsApp, at least at first.
This is what a recent discovery made by WABetaInfo appears to suggest, as the feature, which has also been renamed to “Delete messages,” is no longer available in individual chats, but only offered to group admins.
More specifically, group administrators can configure the automatic removal of the chat messages, most likely in an attempt to keep things clean and organized in conversations with a large number of participants. Furthermore, this could help save storage on the mobile device, especially if media files are often shared in a group.
Currently available in beta builds
For the time being, the new feature is available in beta builds of WhatsApp for Android and iOS, and there are no specifics as to when it could go live for everyone. Of course, other changes are also possible in the meantime, but for now, all signs seem to be pointing to automatic message removal coming to group chats exclusively. The existing implementation of this feature makes it possible only for administrators to enable and disable the automatic message removal feature.
The aforementioned source speculates that this feature could be used for individual conversations by creating a group chat with just one contact, albeit it goes without saying this isn’t necessarily the most convenient workaround.
In Telegram, which right now is one of WhatsApp’s main rivals, options to automatically delete messages are offered as part of secret chats, which offer enhanced privacy, such as disabled screenshot capturing.