WhatsApp announced today that it had expanded the privacy control features with the addition of default disappearing messages for all newly initiated chats.
"When enabled, all new one-on-one chats you or another person start will be set to disappear at your chosen duration, and we've added a new option when creating a group chat that lets you turn it on for groups you create," WhatsApp
said. "This new feature is optional and does not change or delete any of your existing chats."
Today, with the launch of default disappearing messages, the company also added two new durations that allow setting up messages to disappear after 24 hours or 90 days.
You can enable disappearing messages by default for all new one-to-one chats on iOS and Android devices by going to WhatsApp Settings, tapping Account > Privacy > Default message timer, and selecting a duration.
However, if you want to permanently have access to one of your chats in the future, you also have the choice to switch back to standard chats where disappearing messages are not enabled.
"For people who choose to switch on default disappearing messages, we will display a message in your chats that tells people this is the default you've chosen," the company added.
"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."
WhatsApp default disappearing messages (WhatsApp)