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New 'Vanish Mode' in Messenger and Instagram Enables Disappearing Chats

Friday November 13, 2020 4:10 am PST by Tim Hardwick

Facebook's Messenger and Instagram apps are getting a new "vanish mode" feature that gives users a new way to chat using disappearing messages.

Disappearing messages can already be used in Messenger's "secret conversation" feature, but they require several steps and users have to set a timer to make the messages disappear.

However, the new "vanish mode" is enabled by simply swiping up in a chat, after which messages disappear after they're seen, and if the recipient takes a screenshot of the conversation, the sender will be notified.

Accessing the new mode in Instagram requires that users accept Facebook's offer to integrate Messenger features into Instagram's in-app chat.

Facebook recently rolled out a new disappearing messages feature to all WhatsApp users on iOS and Android, allowing messages, photos, and videos to be marked to disappear after seven days.

Vanish mode is available to Messenger users in the U.S. now and Facebook says the feature will expand to additional countries, and to Instagram, "soon."

(Via Engadget.)

Tags: Facebook Messenger, Instagram

Top Rated Comments

djcerla

2 weeks ago

On my phone, Facebook is in Vanish Mode since 2017.

Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)

brett_x

"Vanish".. well for end users anyway. I'm sure Facebook keeps the data for themselves (and their advertisers).

Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Sebosz

It’s 2020 and people still feel the irresistible need to inform everybody that they don’t use/hate Facebook whenever it’s mentioned? Okay, we get it, you’re so cool and safe.

Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)

TwoBytes

This should be relabelled vanished for the user, kept by Facebook.

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

This brings up a gripe of mine. Who's business is it if I take a screenshot on my phone? MINE and Nobody else's. Nobody should be informed if/when I take a screenshot. I'm really surprised Apple lets Facebook and others (I think Snapchat started this) to have this feature. I'm relatively sure it could be restricted through API's. It's a privacy thing, so Apple should take the lead.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

PinkyMacGodess

I'm sure they wouldn't hesitate to use any of that treasure trove to embarrass or threaten a famous person they don't like.

Facebook was started by an immature college student to shame and punish people in his clique they didn't like. It really hasn't grown up from that infantile start. Zuckerberg needs to go. I've been involved with two 'mom and pop' companies that made it big. They reach a point where the expansion is either stopped, or the company goes in a bad direction.

One company had to have a painful 'intervention' for the employees to wrest control of the company from an owner that kept sabotaging their merger process with a larger company.

Zuckerberg needs to step aside, or be pushed aside, for the good of the company and their users.

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