Telegram now allows users to set a timer for automatic deletion of all messages, which should satisfy users who have recently switched to WhatsApp

Other new Telegram features announced in a blog post include flexible invitation links, a smartphone home screen widget, and group chats with unlimited members; WhatsApp has many of these features, including auto-delete, but the app's privacy policy controversy, many users fled the platform last month

Telegram already has an auto-delete option for encrypted secret chats, but both iOS and Android users can now set messages of any kind to disappear after 24 hours or 7 days

Importantly, for regular chats, auto-delete only applies to messages sent after the feature is turned on Messages sent before this option is activated will not disappear However, once the feature is enabled, users will see a countdown of each message's auto-deletion

The countdown begins when the message is sent This differs from disappearing messages in secret chat, where the countdown begins when the message is read

To activate the auto-delete timer for regular Telegram messages on Android, tap the three vertical dots (⋮), then Clear History, then select a time period 11]

To activate the auto-delete timer on iOS, press and hold the message Press and hold, then tap Select, Clear Chat, then Enable Auto-Delete

WhatsApp added its own message disappearing feature late last year, and Signal had offered the same option before that

While WhatsApp's privacy policy issues have made Signal a desirable alternative for those concerned about security, Telegram is also the best chat app available today and one of the best encrypted message apps