WhatsApp Upcoming Features: WhatsApp continuously updates its features to provide users with an enhanced experience. The company is now working on a new privacy feature that could make chats even more secure than before. This new feature is reportedly being called “After Reading.” Let’s understand this in simple terms.
WhatsApp Upcoming Features: What is “After Reading” feature?
- The objective of this feature is quite simple: as soon as the recipient reads your message, it will automatically disappear within a short period.
- This means you won’t need to manually delete the message yourself.
- According to reports, a 15-minute timer will begin the moment the recipient opens the message.
- Once the timer expires, the message will be removed from the chat history on both ends.
- If the recipient does not open the message, it will remain in the chat for 24 hours before automatically deleting itself.
WhatsApp privacy: Where has this feature been spotted?
- WABetaInfo has spotted this feature within the Android beta version of WhatsApp.
- It is reported to be present in Android version 2.26.12.2; however, it is not yet fully available for testing purposes.
- This indicates that the company is currently still working on it.
WhatsApp new feature: Which users will benefit from this?
This feature will be particularly useful for individuals who frequently share private information, such as:-
- OTPs (One-Time Passwords)
- Bank or app passwords
- Addresses or locations
- Verification codes
If such information remains in a chat for an extended period, the risk to privacy increases. However, with the help of this new feature, messages will automatically disappear, thereby keeping your data secure.
WhatsApp update 2026: It will work even if Read Receipts are disabled
- Typically, in WhatsApp, “blue ticks” (Read Receipts) indicate whether a message has been read or not.
- However, many users keep this setting disabled for privacy reasons.
- According to reports, the “After Reading” feature will function even if Read Receipts are turned off.
- This means that even if the blue ticks do not appear, the timer will still begin once the message is read, and the message will subsequently be deleted.
How does it differ from existing features, and when will it launch?
- Currently, WhatsApp offers the “Disappearing Messages” feature, wherein messages automatically vanish after 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.
- However, the new “After Reading” feature is significantly different from, and faster than this, as messages will be deleted just 15 minutes after they are read.
- At present, the company has not provided any official information regarding the launch date of this feature.
- Since it is currently in the development stage, its release may take some time.
Also Read- WhatsApp Username Feature 2026: No number needed! WhatsApp testing username-based messaging
