Within a week of reports suggesting that Facebook-owned WhatsApp is working on disappearing messages, it looks like another of Facebook subsidiaries is following the trend. This time, it is Instagram that is likely to come up with the feature.
Ephemeral messaging or basically messages that disappear after a given time might be the next feature coming in for Instagram users. Yet unreleased, the feature was recent spotted by Jane Manchun Wong, a reverse engineering specialist. Wong found the code in Instagram's Android app under a "speak no evil" emoji label.
Wong shared the findings via a tweet on Thursday, illustrating that the feature works when Instagram users enter a dark mode messaging window from the Instagram Direct message window. As soon as the dark mode chat window is closed, any message sent in that mode disappears.
Interestingly, Instagram even acknowledged the feature recently, saying "We're always exploring new features to improve your messaging experience."? It further added that the feature ¡°is still in early development¡± and has not entered an external testing phase just yet.
If so, Instagram will be the latest in line to offer the feature to its users. A trend started by Instagram rival Snapchat, Facebook has a history of bringing the feature to its own platforms.
In fact, Facebook tried to make this feature work for it by launching its own ephemeral messaging app Slingshot back in 2014, right after Snapchat rejected Facebook¡¯s $3 billion offer. Facebook shut the app a year afterwards.
The whole point of ephemeral messaging is to make people more comfortable on online platforms. So as the social media platforms and chat apps works towards incorporating the feature in their own services, it will only be proven with time as to who manages to make it work.