Facebook Launches “Vanish” Mode for Chat

The social media company Facebook has announced the launch of a new “Vanish” mode feature for messages in Messenger and Instagram. The new addition allows for messages to disappear after the recipient has seen them and left the chat.

Users have the ability to turn on this vanishing feature by swiping up on their device in an existing chat thread. If they choose to return to the original messaging mode, users can simply swipe up on their device again and get back to the regular chat screen. Users will continue to be notified if someone screenshots their chat in vanishing mode in Messenger and Instagram.

Bridget Pujals, Messenger Product Manager, and Manik Singh, Instagram Product Manager, made a statement regarding the new addition saying “We designed vanish mode with safety and choice in mind, so you control your experience.”

Vanish mode is currently available for use on Messenger in the US and is set to later become available to those in the EU. According to Facebook, the feature is scheduled to be also offered on Instagram in the next coming weeks as well.