WhatsApp has introduced a new feature that allows users to save received messages that disappear if the sender consents. The feature will be rolled out in a phased rollout over the coming weeks.
See also: WhatsApp: Companion mode for Android beta users
Disappearing messages on WhatsApp have been around since August 2020. This messaging method is great for sending sensitive information and keeping it safe . However, this “burn-after-reading” policy is set to change with a future WhatsApp update
See also: How to change group privacy settings on WhatsApp
The Meta- owned messaging app wants to let a recipient save a message that disappears with a long press. The feature makes it easy for the person to return to the message later . Of course, there’s a catch here. The sender of that disappearing message receives a notification informing them of the recipient’s intention to save the message . The sender can accept or decline the request.
WhatsApp will let everyone save disappearing messages, under one condition!
WhatsApp described the feature as a "sender superpower," as it allows the sender to decide whether the recipient can save the message or not.
“If you decide that your message cannot be kept by others, your decision is final, no one else can keep it, and the message will be deleted when the timer expires ,” WhatsApp said. “This way, you have the final say in how the messages you send are protected .”
See also: Channels: WhatsApp's new tool for Broadcasting Information
As you can see in the screenshot above, once you want to save a disappearing message and the sender consents to it, a bookmark icon appears at the top edge allowing you to do so. The message will be saved in the Kept Messages folder.
The ability to store a disappearing message may seem strange at first, because if the sender had enough trust in the recipient to begin with, there would be no reason to send the message in a disappearing form. It also goes against the “burn-after-reading” policy that the entire feature was built around .
Information source: androidheadlines.com
