Security News > 2021 > December > WhatsApp adds default disappearing messages for new chats
WhatsApp announced today that it had expanded the privacy control features with the addition of default disappearing messages for all newly initiated 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.
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 comes after the introduction of disappearing messages one year ago, in November 2020, with all new messages sent to a chat set to disappear after seven days if the feature was enabled by one of the recipients in one-to-one conversations or by an admin in group chats.