This archive report was first published on 5 October 2019.
Published on October 5, 2019, WhatsApp is testing a self-destruct feature that allows users to create messages with a mini-lifetime, which can self-destruct between 5 seconds and 1 hour.
The feature, currently being tested in group settings, is not a new concept in the texting world. Some third-party WhatsApp platforms have offered similar perks to users.
Facebook, WhatsApp's parent company, offers similar services through its 'secret chat' feature on the Messenger App. In the case of Messenger, messages on secret chat are end-to-end encrypted, a default feature on WhatsApp.
While this feature offers an additional set of privacy perks on the app, it is still unclear when the Beta tests will end. It is also unclear when, if at all, the messaging platform will launch this feature.
