Trending Now - Whatsapp Developing Feature for Self-destructing Messages

WHO:

Mashable - WhatsApp is the organization developing the new feature for self-destructing messages.

9to5Mac - WABetaInfo is the source reporting on the new feature.

WHAT:

9to5Mac - The new “After reading” option appears in WhatsApp’s “Default message timer” setting, which works differently from existing time-based options like 24 hours, 7 days, and 90 days.

9to5Mac - Users can choose to make their messages disappear 5 minutes, 1 hour, or 12 hours after being read.

Mashable - WhatsApp is testing a feature that allows messages to disappear after they are read.

9to5Mac - Users will be able to set disappearing messages to vanish after the recipient has read them.

9to5Mac - The new “After reading” option allows users to configure messages to disappear 5 minutes, 1 hour, or 12 hours after being read.

9to5Mac - Unread messages will still disappear after 24 hours by default.

WHERE:

9to5Mac - The feature is available in WhatsApp’s Android beta and on TestFlight for iOS beta testers.

WHEN:

9to5Mac - The feature is currently available to some beta testers, with a limited number of users able to test it through the version available on the App Store.

WHY:

9to5Mac - The new feature aims to bring an added layer of privacy to disappearing messages and to save storage space on devices.

HOW:

9to5Mac - Users can enable disappearing messages for individual chats or set them as the default for all new chats.

(UPDATED May 21, 2026 04:20 UTC)

WhatsApp has introduced a new feature called "After reading," which allows users to set messages to disappear five minutes, one hour, or twelve hours after being read, offering more flexibility than the existing time-based options. This feature can be enabled for individual chats or set as the default for all new conversations. Users can now enjoy greater control over their messaging privacy with these new disappearing message settings.

(UPDATED May 21, 2026 01:43 UTC)

WhatsApp is currently testing a new feature that allows messages to disappear after they are read, with users able to configure the timing to vanish five minutes, one hour, or twelve hours later. This feature is available to some beta testers on WhatsApp’s Android beta and through TestFlight for iOS beta testers, while unread messages will still disappear after twenty-four hours by default. Designed to enhance privacy and save storage space, users can enable disappearing messages for individual chats or set them as the default for all new conversations.