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WhatsApp is testing a new privacy feature that changes how disappearing messages work, adding a layer of control based not just on time, but on whether a message has actually been read.
The feature, spotted in the latest iOS beta by WABetaInfo, introduces a new option called “After reading”. It allows messages to disappear after they are opened by the recipient, rather than simply expiring after a fixed time.
A timer that starts after the message is read
Until now, WhatsApp’s disappearing messages have followed a straightforward rule: messages are deleted after a set period, such as 24 hours, 7 days or 90 days, regardless of whether they have been seen.
The new system changes that logic. With “After reading”, the countdown begins only once the recipient opens the message.
Users can choose how quickly the message disappears after being read, with options such as 5 minutes, 1 hour, or 12 hours. If the message is never opened, it will still be automatically deleted after 24 hours.
According to WABetaInfo, the feature is currently appearing in the “Default message timer” section, even if it behaves differently from existing time-based settings.
How it works in practice
The mechanics are relatively simple but introduce a more dynamic system.
If a message is sent at 10:00 and set to disappear 5 minutes after being read, it will remain stored until the recipient opens it. If it is read at 10:10, it will disappear at 10:15. If it is never read, it will be removed the next day after 24 hours.
On the sender’s device, the message is also deleted according to the same logic, reinforcing the idea that the content is temporary on both ends of the conversation.
A broader push toward ephemeral messaging
WhatsApp has been steadily expanding its disappearing messages tools as part of a wider focus on privacy and storage management. The feature can already be enabled for individual chats or set as a default for new conversations.
“After reading” adds a more flexible layer to this system, aligning it closer to features like view-once media, where content is designed to exist only briefly and under specific conditions.
Limited rollout for now
The feature is currently available only to a small group of beta testers on iOS, with some reports suggesting that a limited number of App Store users may also be able to access it.
There is no confirmed timeline for a full public rollout across iOS and Android. As with many WhatsApp experiments, its final form could still change before release.
What is clear, however, is the direction of travel: more granular control over how long messages exist, and a gradual shift toward conversations that are increasingly temporary by default.