Vanish mode is a feature in some messaging apps that makes messages disappear after a predetermined amount of time. Because there’s no log of your conversation in the chat history, it’s a safer way to send sensitive content. If you’d like to communicate privately or find out how secure Vanish mode really is, keep reading. I’ll reveal how to activate this feature in popular messaging apps and discuss its limitations so you’re fully informed.
Vanishing messages: purpose, advantages, and limitations
This feature’s name changes based on which app you’re using, but the core functionality is pretty similar across all platforms. With Vanish mode active, any messages you send will disappear shortly after being viewed. Simply select how long you’d like messages to be visible and start chatting privately! Most apps with this feature even alert you if someone screenshots your conversation, making it harder to circumvent this limitation.
What are the benefits of Vanish mode?
Most messaging apps don’t ever delete your conversations. They’ll remain available for years, likely until you delete your account (and potentially even afterward). Messages sent in Vanish mode, meanwhile, can be hidden once viewed, when the chat is closed, or after a preset time expires. Here are some of the main advantages of using Vanish mode:
- It’s harder (but not impossible) for someone to create a copy of your messages
- Lowers the chance of anything sensitive being leaked after an account breach
- Keeps chat log clutter to a minimum
- Provides a higher level of privacy when talking to someone who shares a phone
- Reduces data-storage requirements since chats in Vanish mode aren’t saved long-term
What should I be aware of when using Vanish mode?
The most important thing to remember is that Vanish mode is not completely anonymous. Some apps tell you if whoever you’re chatting with records their screen or takes a screenshot, but not all do. Additionally, it’s trivially simple to evade this notification by taking a photo of the phone screen using a second device. That’s why it’s so important to carefully consider what you send and who you send it to.
Additionally, the platform you’re using may keep chat logs, even if neither you nor the recipient can see them. Snapchat, for instance, only uses end-to-end encryption on photos and videos, meaning it’s possible for it to intercept text-based messages. This is unlikely unless there’s a legal reason to do so, such as if someone reports your conversation to authorities.
Here’s a breakdown of every major app’s disappearing message functionality:
How to use Vanish mode on your preferred messaging app
Snapchat was the first messaging app to offer ephemeral conversations, and Instagram first coined the term “Vanish mode”. However, this feature is now available on WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and Facebook Messenger as well. Below, I’ll explain how to activate Vanish mode on whichever chat app you use most:
How to turn on Instagram’s Vanish mode
To make your Instagram messages automatically disappear, just open a conversation, move to the bottom, then scroll down and hold. After a moment, you’ll see confirmation that disappearing messages are now active. Repeat the process to turn this feature back off, or hit Change to change the message-expiration time.
To its credit, Instagram recently began blocking all screenshots in conversations where Vanish mode is active. However, it also removed its own end-to-end encryption and has a two-week reporting window. As such, it can almost certainly see what you’re talking about.
How to activate Disappearing Messages on Facebook Messenger
Facebook’s Disappearing Messages feature is only available if the conversation is end-to-end encrypted. Thankfully, this is the default, so unless you’ve specifically turned encryption off, you’re probably fine.
Just open a chat, click the “i” icon in the top-right, scroll down, and select Disappearing messages. There’s only one option available, so choose 24 hours.
How to enable Disappearing Messages on WhatsApp
It’s nice and easy to activate Vanish mode on WhatsApp. Simply open a conversation, hit the three dots in the corner, and tap Disappearing messages. After reading the explanation of what this feature does, click OK and choose your desired expiration period.
How to edit Snapchat’s message deletion schedule
Snapchat was the original “disappearing message” app, and by default, it deletes messages once they’re viewed by individuals or by everyone in a group chat. You can extend this by tapping a contact, hitting the three dots, and selecting Delete Chats… followed by 24 hours after viewing.
How to change how long Signal messages stay visible
Signal has more expiration options than any other platform tested and even lets you specify a custom period (but no longer than four weeks). Just open a chat, click the three dots, then select Chat settings, followed by Disappearing messages. Finally, choose how long you’d like messages to remain visible.
How to change message-deletion settings on Telegram
To change the message-expiry duration on Telegram, open a chat and tap your contact’s name at the top of the screen. Then, click the three dots and select Auto-Delete. Now, just choose one of the preset options or enter your own (up to one year). Alternatively, click the self-destruct timer to set an app-wide deletion timer that applies to all conversations.
Conclusion
Conversations that delete themselves periodically are a welcome change after the acquire-data-at-all-costs attitude popularized over the last two decades. It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction. With some form of ephemeral chat functionality now present in every major messaging app, you may as well take advantage.
Not sure whether any of the services above are right for you? Why not check out our guide to the best encrypted messaging apps instead?
