If you see such a cute little clock sign next to your friend’s profile on WhatsApp or even some groups and wonder what it signifies, then you are in the right spot. Let’s dive in and learn more about the disappearing messages feature on WhatsApp and how you can enable it for your group or individual chats.
Breaking Down the Reason Behind the Clock Sign on WhatsApp
The small clock icon or sign that you see next to the profile picture of a few of your contacts is the “disappearing messages” icon. It is a new feature that WhatsApp has launched, which is pretty much reminiscent of Snapchat’s self-destructing feature, which disappears your chats or snaps after a few minutes as set by you. Before rolling this out, WhatsApp tested it out for months. With this feature, users can send messages to individuals or groups which can self-destruct as early as 24 hours (depending on your settings). Though, WhatsApp is late to the party as it is something that Snapchat has been offering a better version of it for ages (it’s kind of Snapchat’s USP). Still, better late than never. You can enjoy this feature on WhatsApp Android and iOS devices. This feature can make your messages disappear on individual chats and group ones. By default, this feature is off, so you have to turn it on manually.
How To Turn On Disappearing Messages on WhatsApp?
To turn on Disappearing Messages follow these steps for individual/group chat: When you do it, you will see a little clock sign next to the group or individual’s picture at the top.
Important Points
Here are some crucial pointers to keep in mind with disappearing messages on WhatsApp:
The disappearing messages option works on both individual and group chats. If one participant in a one-to-one chat turns on the disappearing messages option, the other party can disable it as they see fit. In the group chat, other participants cannot turn off the disappearing messages option. Only the admin can. If a user does not open a message, the message still will disappear after the stipulated time. If you forward the disappearing message to someone else, the forwarded message will not disappear. Only the source will vanish after the assigned time. If you create a backup of a disappearing message, the disappearing message will remain in the backup until you try to restore it from the backup. Users can still view the preview of the message in the notification panel even if the original message disappears from WhatsApp.
Another Clock Icon on WhatsApp
If you see a clock next to any message you send, instead of a double or single click, the message has not been forwarded due to an unstable internet connection. When you turn on the internet, the little clock at the bottom of the message will automatically vanish into thin air.
Conclusion
If you see a little clock next to any group or one-to-one chat, you should know it means the conversation will disappear after a specific time. This time slot can be as early as 24 hours and as prolonged as 90 days. Try this feature out as rolled by WhatsApp to further alleviate the privacy of your conversations.
