Facebook Launches Snapchat-Inspired Disappearing Messages
Facebook is currently trialling a new feature that lets you send secret messages to your friends.
Dubbed ‘secret conversations’ this exciting new update is currently only available on a test basis but should be officially rolled out to all users by the end of summer.
Unlike Snapchat, secret conversations allows you to control how long your message appears within your conversation. Once the timer runs out, the message will vanish from all recipients' devices.
In a recent blog post, Facebook said, 'We are starting to test the ability to create one-to-one secret conversations in Messenger that will be end-to-end encrypted and which can only be read on one device of the person you’re communicating with. That means the messages are intended just for you and the other person — not anyone else.'
To start sharing encrypted messages tap on a friend’s name within an existing message thread, and select 'secret conversations'. Once clicked a new thread will appear informing you that end-to-end encryption has been activated. Set your timer and begin messaging.
End-to-end encryption has seen a surge in popularity in recent years as tech firms update their security settings to protect your privacy. Encryption involves scrambling data so it's unreadable unless a device password is entered.
Words by Dan Flay