WhatsApp has unveiled “Keep in Chat,” a new feature to give users the ability to hold on to a message — with one big caveat.
Disappearing messages are an important security feature that ensures messages are temporary and can’t be saved. Nonetheless, there are times when a user may want to keep a specific message. WhatsApp is now making that possible with Keep in Chat, although doing it in a way that maintains security.
The company outlined the feature in a blog post:
Today we’re introducing “Keep in Chat,” so you can hang on to texts you need for later, with a special superpower for the sender. We believe if you’ve sent the message, it’s your choice whether others in the chat can keep it for later.
To make this work, the sender will be notified when someone keeps a message, and the sender will have the ability to veto the decision. If you’ve decided your message can’t be kept by others, your decision is final, no one else can keep it and the message will be deleted when the timer expires. This way you have the final say on how messages you send are protected.
The new feature will roll out globally in the coming weeks.
