In recent years, disappearing messages have become a popular feature in messaging apps. This allows users to send messages that automatically delete after a set period of time, such as an hour or a day. While not the first app to have this feature, WhatsApp played a big role in popularizing disappearing messages. After WhatsApp introduced disappearing messages in 2020, many other apps followed suit by adding their own takes on self-destructing messages. So which messaging apps introduced disappearing messages after WhatsApp brought the feature into the mainstream?
WhatsApp Popularized Disappearing Messages
WhatsApp introduced disappearing messages in November 2020. This allowed users to turn on an option to have new messages delete after 7 days automatically. Prior to this, WhatsApp did not have any built-in disappearing messages feature. The introduction of disappearing messages was likely a response to rival messaging apps that already had the feature.
By implementing disappearing messages, WhatsApp made them easily accessible to its broad user base of over 2 billion users worldwide. While other apps had this feature earlier, WhatsApp bringing it to its mainstream platform popularized the idea of disappearing messages. This set off a trend of other major apps adding their own takes on self-destructing messages.
Early Adopters of Disappearing Messages
While WhatsApp helped make disappearing messages mainstream, it was not the first app to offer the feature. Some early adopters of disappearing messages include:
Snapchat
Snapchat pioneered ephemeral messaging when it launched in 2011. The core feature of Snapchat was that photos and videos would disappear after being viewed. Users could also send text chats that would delete after being read. This concept of temporary, self-destructing messages was revolutionary at the time.
Snapchat’s disappearing messages inspired other apps to create their own takes on ephemeral messaging in the following years. This included WhatsApp and Instagram launching their own stories features based on Snapchat.
Wickr
Wickr is an encrypted messaging app that debuted disappearing messages in 2012. Users could set messages to delete after a specified time, from 3 seconds up to 6 days. Wickr was popular among privacy conscious users thanks to its built-in encryption. The app still exists today with its ephemeral messaging features.
Telegram
Telegram introduced its disappearing messages feature in 2013. Users could send messages that would self-destruct after a set time period. Telegram also allowed users to delete messages at any time after sending them. These features helped Telegram grow in popularity, especially in security-focused circles.
Apps that Followed WhatsApp
After WhatsApp introduced disappearing messages in 2020, many other major apps were quick to launch their own takes:
Instagram rolled out vanishing messages for its chats in March 2021. Users could toggle an option to have their messages disappear after 24 hours or 90 days. Instagram noted they added this due to the growing demand for ephemeral messaging features.
Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger got its own disappearing messages in April 2021. In Messenger, users could send messages that delete after a pre-selected time, from 5 seconds up to 24 hours. Messenger also offers an expiring mode, where all new messages disappear after a set duration.
Signal
Signal followed suit in May 2021 by introducing disappearing messages. Users could set a timer for messages to delete after anywhere from 5 seconds to 1 month. Signal also brought self-destructing photos and videos to compete with Snapchat.
Google Chat
Google Chat and Google Messages implemented vanishing messages in June 2021. Users could enable a default message expiration length or customize deletion times for specific conversations.
Other Apps with Disappearing Messages
In addition to the major apps above, many other messaging platforms also have disappearing messages features:
Viber
Skype
Hike
Wire
Threema
Wix
Tango
Kik
Line
Slack
Having self-destructing messages has almost become an expected feature in messaging apps today. While not the pioneer, WhatsApp played a pivotal role in popularizing ephemeral messaging when it launched disappearing messages in 2020. This triggered many other major apps to quickly follow with their own implementations in order to stay competitive. Going forward, we will likely see ephemeral messaging become standard across all types of communication apps and platforms.
The Growth of Disappearing Messages
Since Snapchat introduced ephemeral messaging in 2011, disappearing messages have seen steady growth in adoption:
| Year | Key Milestones |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Snapchat launches with disappearing photo and video messages |
| 2012 | Wickr launches encrypted messaging with auto-deleting messages |
| 2013 | Telegram introduces disappearing messages feature |
| 2016 | WhatsApp adds end-to-end encryption |
| 2018 | Facebook Messenger gets OTR encryption protocol |
| 2020 | WhatsApp releases disappearing messages |
| 2021 | Instagram, Signal, Google Chat add disappearing messages |
As privacy becomes a bigger concern among users, ephemeral messaging looks to keep growing in popularity. With major apps like WhatsApp now featuring disappearing messages, many more users have access to this capability. Going forward, we will likely see nearly every messaging app adopt some form of temporary, self-deleting messages as a core feature.
The Appeal of Disappearing Messages
Disappearing messages have become popular for several key reasons:
Privacy
The auto-delete function of ephemeral messages gives users more control over their privacy. It limits the spread of sensitive information by preventing it from being permanently stored. This increased privacy is appealing to users, especially as data breaches rise.
Reduced Clutter
Disappearing messages cut down on message clutter by automatically removing old chats. This helps keep the messaging experience focused on recent conversations.
Fun and Engaging
On more casual platforms like Snapchat, the ephemeral nature of disappearing messages adds a fun, fleeting element. It encourages users to enjoy lighthearted content in the moment.
Security
For enterprises, disappearing messages improve information security by reducing the data footprint. Encrypted ephemeral messaging also offers protection against cyberattacks.
As user demand increases, disappearing messages will likely be standard on nearly all messaging platforms in the future. WhatsApp played a key part in driving this trend into the mainstream starting in 2020.
The Impact of WhatsApp on Disappearing Messages
WhatsApp brought disappearing messages into the mainstream when it introduced the feature in November 2020. WhatsApp’s influence on ephemeral messaging is significant in a few key ways:
Reach
With over 2 billion users globally, WhatsApp has an incredibly wide reach. This allowed disappearing messages to instantly become available to a vast audience worldwide.
User Trust
Since WhatsApp already had people’s trust as an established platform, users were more receptive to trying out ephemeral messaging on WhatsApp compared to less known apps.
Feature Legitimacy
WhatsApp incorporating disappearing messages signaled that ephemeral messaging was a legitimate feature that offered real benefits. This added credibility caused more apps to feel confident in adding their own versions.
Network Effects
The network effect states that a service gains more value as more people use it. WhatsApp has massive network effects due to its large user base. Introducing disappearing messages instantly gave ephemeral messaging much greater network value.
Overall, WhatsApp’s influence dramatically accelerated the adoption of disappearing messages across the digital messaging landscape. It marked an important milestone that helped ephemeral communication cross into the mainstream.
The Future of Disappearing Messages
Looking ahead, here are some possible predictions for the future of ephemeral messaging:
Ubiquitous Adoption
Disappearing messages will likely become a standard feature included in almost all messaging apps. Users will come to expect ephemerality as the norm.
Integration with Social Media
Platforms like Twitter and Reddit may add disappearing messages features to their messaging capabilities. This could create an intriguing mix of ephemeral and permanent conversations.
Enterprise Collaboration Applications
Encrypted, ephemeral messaging will see rising use in business collaboration tools to improve security and privacy. Enterprise apps like Slack already support disappearing messages.
Enhanced Control Over Data
Users will gain more granular control to customize when and how their messages expire. Machine learning can help build smart auto-delete functions tailored to user habits.
New Monetization Models
Paid premium tiers may emerge that provide exclusive control over ephemerality features compared to free versions. Disappearing messages could become a monetizable capability.
As temporary messaging becomes the norm, innovative new features and capabilities for ephemeral communication will continue to evolve across both consumer and enterprise applications.
Conclusion
While not the first to offer disappearing messages, WhatsApp played a pivotal role in bringing ephemeral messaging into the mainstream. Its huge user base helped quickly popularize the privacy and security benefits of auto-deleting messages. This led other major apps like Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and Signal to quickly follow with their own takes on ephemeral messaging.
Looking ahead, we will likely see disappearing messages become a standard feature that users expect across all messaging platforms. WhatsApp proved the appeal of ephemeral communication in 2020, paving the way for it to become the norm. With auto-deleting messages, users gain more control over their privacy while enjoying the benefits of reduced clutter. The growth of disappearing messages represents a wider trend of consumers valuing ephemerality and taking greater ownership over their data.