WhatsApp has introduced a new feature called “Keep in Chat” that allows users to save disappearing messages and media for future reference. The feature was developed to address a common issue faced by users who wanted to save important information shared in disappearing messages, such as addresses or recommendations.
The “Keep in Chat” feature can be accessed by long-pressing on a disappearing message and requesting to keep it. The sender will receive a notification and can either allow or veto the request. If the sender approves the request, the message will appear with a bookmark icon indicating that it has been saved in the user’s kept messages folder.
According to WhatsApp, the sender has ultimate control over whether a message can be saved or not. If they don’t approve the request, the message will expire after its pre-specified time. WhatsApp’s implementation ensures that the privacy and security benefits of disappearing messages are not compromised.
The company introduced the Disappearing Messages feature in 2020 to allow conversations to mirror in-person chats, where they are one-time only. The Keep in Chat feature acts as an extra layer of privacy and a “special superpower” for the sender, giving them ultimate control over what is kept.
The feature will roll out globally in the coming weeks, and users can access it by long-pressing on a disappearing message. WhatsApp has also provided a guide on how to send disappearing messages for those who are unfamiliar with the feature.
