You know something has pretty much become an essential part of life when it becomes a verb. And these days you’re quite likely to hear “WhatsApp me” instead of “send me a WhatsApp message”, cementing the messaging app’s status as a tech must-have.
About two billion users send about 100 billion messages daily on WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook.
That’s a lot of messages and WhatsApp’s latest nifty feature is partially aimed at reducing the number of missives that remain on your phone.
Messages sent using the new “disappearing message” feature will disappear after seven days. Rivals like Snapchat have long had this feature and the company says it’s designed to make chats feel more natural.
“Our goal is to make conversations on WhatsApp feel as close to in-person as possible, which means they shouldn’t have to stick around forever,” the company wrote in a blog post ahead of the launch.
Here’s a look at the nifty new feature – plus plenty of others you may not have known about.
DISAPPEARING MESSAGES
Find the person you want to chat to and tap on their name at the top of the screen.
Scroll down and select the Disappearing messages option and select On. A clock icon will appear next to each contact’s profile picture.
You’ll need to do it with individual contacts if you want it for more than one person.
If you back up messages in services like iCloud or Google Drive, the messages will back up there.
Denne historien er fra 3 December 2020-utgaven av YOU South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra 3 December 2020-utgaven av YOU South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
HOW TO BE YOUR OWN THERAPIST
With more and more of us struggling with our mental health, here's a common-sense guide to coping with life's ups and downs
SPUD: THE MAGIC CONTINUES
John van de Ruit tells us why he decided to write a sequel - and shares how his first book helped him find enduring love
SEX CONTRACT GONE WRONG
A Cape Town couple have been charged with using a young woman as a sex slave-but some say she lost the job she signed up for and now has a grudge against them
LIAM LAID TO REST
More than a month after One Direction singer LIAM PAYNE (31) tragically fell to his death from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, his loved ones finally got to say their goodbyes.
SHILOH HANGS OUT
THE two young women look like any pair of good friends chatting and laughing as they leave their dance class in Los Angeles.
LEO IN LOVE
He's just turned 50 and it seems Leonardo DiCaprio may finally be ready to settle down
PACKING A PUNCH
Irish actor Paul Mescal beefed up for his role in the blockbuster epic Gladiator II - and fans are loving it
I DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE A LOVE CHILD
As the illegitimate daughter of the king, she fought to be recognised as part of Belgium's royal family, but Princess Delphine says she still feels unwelcome
'I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES'
A bite from a spitting cobra 13 years ago nearly killed her but Mikayla survived - and she's made peace with her scars
THE CLAWS ARE OUT!
Things have grown frosty between the Beckhams and the Sussexes as Becks comes out in clear support of William
