As expected, WhatsApp has announced an extension of its disappearing messages feature. Sent items in individual chats can now be set to expire after 24-hours or 90 days.

The feature was first uncovered in a WhatsApp beta update in August, but is now rolling out to all customers.

Prior to the new options, the app's disappearing messages feature only enabled users to delete messages after 7-days. That remains alongside the new alternatives.

WhatsApp is testing a feature that will see messages disappear after 90 days photo 2
WhatsApp

"We're rolling out a new disappearing messages option on WhatsApp today so you'll be able to make all new chats disappearing by default after 24-hours, 7-days, or 90-days. Not all messages need to stick around forever," said Mark Zuckerberg on his Facebook page.

Like Facebook, WhatsApp is a Meta company.

Also added in recent months are 'view once' photos and videos, which disappear after they have been opened by the recipient. As with deleting text-based messages, this feature is really handy for occasions when you want to send a photo of a password, for example, that you don't want to be saved or shared.

Even though these features would represent an encouraging step forward for one of the world's most popular messaging clients, it's important to remember it still lags quite far behind the likes of Telegram and Signal regarding features for sensitive chats.