Absolutely anything
Key Takeaways
WhatsApp users can now set the app tosend disappearing messages by default.
you’re free to also fine-tune how long they stick around before vanishing.
Disappearing messages won’t save you from embarrassment, but they can ensure that long-forgotten communications stay forgotten.
Vanishing Act
Disappearing messages are just what they sound like.
Don’t go thinking that the message has been completely erased from the world, though.
If your message is quoted or included in a backup, it will stick around.
“When you reply to a message, the initial message is quoted.
And don’t forget people can grab a copy for themselves.
“In other words, the user could still screenshot what you said.
And once they have that screenshot, well, whatever words or photos you sent live on.”
So What Is It Good For?
Disappearing messages wont help you avoid the consequences for ill-considered messages.
Any savvy recipient can just screenshot the messages for posterity (and evidence).
But its generally a good idea to leave as small a digital footprint as possible.
That would happen much less often if those public figures auto-deleted their tweets every week.
It helps you to choose which conversation or information youd like to vanish and which youd like to keep.
If you dont want something to stick around, you should just never send it.
No amount of disappearing chats or photos will fix that.
But as a general rule, you might prefer not to spread opinionated bits and bytes around the metaverse.
And if you dont want all your messages to disappear?
Thats what the new controls are for.
You may want your familys conversations to stick around forever, because why not?
There can be some precious memories in those message threads.
