WhatsApp has introduced a new feature aimed at strengthening user privacy by improving its disappearing messages tool, according to a report by WABetaInfo.
The feature is currently available to some users in the beta versions of WhatsApp on Android and iOS devices.
Under the new update, users will be able to send messages that disappear automatically after being read by the recipient, giving users greater control over their private conversations.
According to the report, WhatsApp is adding an “after-read timer” to its disappearing messages feature.
Once a message is opened and read, it will automatically delete itself after a selected period of time.
At present, WhatsApp already allows users to send disappearing messages that are deleted after preset periods such as 24 hours, seven days or 90 days.
However, the existing feature has limitations because messages can sometimes disappear before the recipient has had a chance to read them.
The new addition is designed to ensure that messages remain in the chat inbox until they are opened.
After the message is read, users will be able to choose from three timer options — five minutes, one hour or 12 hours — before the message disappears automatically.
Since the feature is currently being tested in beta versions, the company has not announced when it will be rolled out to all users worldwide.