Facebook is experimenting on ephemeral messaging or 'self-destructing' messages as an option within its Messenger app, allowing users to choose to have their message self-destruct after an hour of sending.
According to Buzzfeed, the ephemeral messaging option to be first introduced in the Facebook Messenger app is currently being tested for Android and iOs users in France.
Facebook was excited to announce the trial stage of the update for its "latest development in an engaging line of optional product features geared towards making Messenger the best way to communicate with people that matter most."
"We're conducting a small test in France of a feature that allows people to send messages that disappear an hour after they're sent. Disappearing messages gives people another fun option to choose from when they communicate on Messenger. We look forward to hearing people's feedback as they give it a try," wrote a Facebook spokesperson.
To enable the disappearing messages in the app, users need to only tap an hourglass icon on the upper right corner of the Messenger app. Another tap on the hourglass icon will disable the feature. The feature can be turned off by all the other users in the conversation by likewise tapping on the hour-glass button.
Although the ephemeral messaging option will be able to boost Facebook Messenger's popularity with its 700 million users, this feature is not new and is seen as Facebook's attempt at taking a shot at Snapchat, its biggest messaging competitor.
Snapchat has long been known for ephemeral messaging. In fact, Facebook tried to take over the app for $3 billion dollars, according to Wall Street Journal. 'Self destructing' messages have been Snapchat's forte, making people feel more confident in sending images and videos knowing that they won't be around forever. Line has likewise introduced "hidden chats" or encrypted messages that disappear within a set amount of time.
According to Techcrunch, the new feature's appeal is in its close echo to real life conversations by introducing video and quick-selfie visual conversations as well as read receipts. Although the experiment is still limited in France, Facebook announced that it will eventually be made available to other countries.
