WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.15.11: what's new?
WhatsApp is developing a feature that lets users better control when their messages disappear on Android. The update will introduce a new "after reading" option alongside the existing time-based timer.
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature: | After reading |
| Status: | Under development |
| Availability info: | This feature is currently in development and not yet available for beta testing. In the meantime, you can read this article for a sneak peek. |
| Previous news: | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.15.9: what's new? WhatsApp is working on a feature to automatically organise business chats and reduce spam! |
WhatsApp will let messages disappear after the recipient reads them
In the post about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.12.2 update, we announced a feature that makes users' messages disappear after the recipient reads them. This functionality will let users have more control over their messages. If this privacy setting is enabled, users will be able to delete their messages shortly after the recipient reads them. This will give the sender greater control over how long their messages remain visible in the conversation.
New feature for disappearing messages is in development
Note that this feature is still under development. Ahead of the official release, WhatsApp keeps improving how the app deletes messages reliably after being read. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.15.11 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on a feature that makes messages disappear after they're sent or read.
WhatsApp is working on making messages disappear after they are read
As you can see from the attached image, WhatsApp is exploring a redesigned interface for the disappearing messages screen. WhatsApp is currently developing the new interface. However, it already promises to offer greater control over our ephemeral conversations. At the moment, users can enable disappearing messages in their chats by choosing from a set of default options. These include 1 day, 1 week, and 90 days. While these options cover common cases, they may not fully meet the needs of users who prefer more flexibility to control how long their messages remain visible.
New "after reading" timer with more flexible duration options
WhatsApp will address the issue mentioned above in a future update. Specifically, WhatsApp plans to introduce a feature that lets users decide whether their messages should disappear after being read. Previously, the default option was 15 minutes. Now, WhatsApp intends to offer even more control over when messages should disappear from the recipient's device. The available choices will include 5 minutes, 1 hour, and 12 hours. With these options, WhatsApp will give users more flexibility to tailor the message visibility to their needs. Users will be able to enable the after reading timer in all chats or in specific conversations.
How standard and "after reading" disappearing timers work
With this feature, WhatsApp will offer two different ways to control how long messages remain visible. The first option is the standard disappearing messages timer. It starts counting from the moment the message is sent. For example, if users select 24 hours, the message disappears from both devices 24 hours after sending, even if the recipient has not read it yet. The second option is the "after reading" timer. It is based on when the recipient actually opens the conversation and reads the message. In this case, if the sender selects 5 minutes, the message disappears from the sender's device 5 minutes after sending, regardless of whether the recipient has read it. On the recipient's device, the countdown only begins once the user reads the message. If the recipient reads the message three hours after sending it, it disappears from their device three hours and five minutes later.
Why the "after reading" option improves message privacy and control
The "after reading" option will offer a more precise level of control over message privacy compared to traditional timers. It ensures that messages remain visible only for a short period after users view them, rather than simply counting down from when users send them. This option can help users share sensitive information with greater confidence. As a result, WhatsApp will introduce this feature to make messages disappear based more directly on how users actually interact with them.
The "after reading" timer is under development
The feature that makes messages disappear after they're sent or read is under development, and it will be available in a future update. WhatsApp is currently working on how the app can better handle these messages. Once testing is complete, WhatsApp will roll out this feature to select beta testers, making it simpler to control over how long disappearing messages remain visible.
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