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

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

messenger-disappearing-messages.jpg

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.)

Article Link: New 'Vanish Mode' in Messenger and Instagram Enables Disappearing Chats
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/11/13/new-vanish-mode-facebook-messenger-instagram/
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Reactions: Vanilla35
TwoBytes said:
This should be relabelled vanished for the user, kept by Facebook.
Click to expand...

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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Reactions: Mcsnee, Lancetx, GeoStructural and 2 others
NOT GOOD If someone sends me a unsolicited message and they send it as vanish mode. They will be able to know if I take a screenshot of it. Especially if it’s something threatening towards me. I would like to have it as evidence. Instead of having to go through the whole report process.
 
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What if we take a screenshot of the NORMAL conversation that’s also in the same message ? Would it be mistaken as taking a screenshot for the disappearing messages ?
 
DBZmusicboy01 said:
NOT GOOD If someone sends me a unsolicited message and they send it as vanish mode. They will be able to know if I take a screenshot of it. Especially if it’s something threatening towards me. I would like to have it as evidence. Instead of having to go through the whole report process.
Click to expand...
Why would you care if they know you took a screen shot of something they probably shouldn't of sent you to begin with?
 
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Reactions: SigEp265
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.
 
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Reactions: Ntombi, rmariboe, glowplug and 4 others
brett_x said:
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.
Click to expand...
AMEN
 
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DBZmusicboy01 said:
NOT GOOD If someone sends me a unsolicited message and they send it as vanish mode. They will be able to know if I take a screenshot of it. Especially if it’s something threatening towards me. I would like to have it as evidence. Instead of having to go through the whole report process.
Click to expand...
In that scenario, does it really matter if they know you took a screenshot or not?
 
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brett_x said:
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.
Click to expand...
I get the purpose, but do agree. With that said, this brings up a gripe of mine.

If I wanted to use Snapchat, I would! I wish IG never sold to FB.
 
Just keep a burner phone with you or even a cheap point-and-shoot. Get an offensive/abusive/etc. text with vanish mode? Take a picture with the other device. The analog hole wins again. :)
 
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DBZmusicboy01 said:
NOT GOOD If someone sends me a unsolicited message and they send it as vanish mode. They will be able to know if I take a screenshot of it. Especially if it’s something threatening towards me. I would like to have it as evidence. Instead of having to go through the whole report process.
Click to expand...
Just take a picture of your screen with another phone. These disappearing message features are so silly.
 
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Reactions: MacCheetah3, rmariboe and compwiz1202
brett_x said:
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.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it's ridiculous. Apple deliberately lets apps know. https://stackoverflow.com/a/18158483/1884363
They used to prevent screenshotting using weird workarounds.
 
brett_x said:
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.
Click to expand...
Why is that only your business though? What makes this a universal right? 🤔
 
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