WhatsApp now allows you to set new chats to disappear by default

WhatsApp, which introduced disappearing messages last year and more recently a way for photos and videos to disappear immediately once viewed, now allows users to turn on disappearing messages by default for all new chats.

Now, all WhatsApp users are able to make all new chats disappear by default after 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days. When enabled, all new one-on-one chats you or another person start will be set to disappear at your chosen duration.

The company also added a new option when creating a group chat that lets users turn it on for groups they created. WhatsApp says the new feature is optional and does not change or delete any of users’ existing chats. 

For people who choose to turn on disappearing messages by default, a message will be displayed in their chat telling people this is the default message chosen. “This makes clear it’s nothing personal – it’s a choice you’ve made about how you want to communicate with everyone on WhatsApp moving forward. Though of course, if you need a particular conversation to remain permanent, it’s easy to switch a chat back.” WhatsApp adds.