Facebook Adds New Feature That Makes Messages Disappear

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Category: Technology/Innovations

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. GIF / gɪf / (n) – an animated image; stands for Graphic Interchange Format
    Example:

    My friends like to send funny GIFs in our chat group.


  2. ephemeral / ɪˈfɛm ər əl / (adj) – lasting for only a very short time
    Example:

    Most fashion trends are ephemeral.


  3. enable / ɛnˈeɪ bəl / (v) – to cause something to be active or ready for use
    Example:

    I enabled the fitness app on my phone to track my number of steps.


  4. walk-through / ˈwɔkˌθru / (n) – a guide or an explanation on how to do something or how something works
    Example:

    The video game has a walk-through, and it’s easy to follow.


  5. roll out (something) / roʊl aʊt / (phrasal) – to sell or make something available for the first time
    Example:

    Apple rolls out new products every year.


Article

Read the text below.

Facebook has added a messaging feature that makes messages disappear on Messenger and Instagram.


Vanish Mode, Facebook’s latest addition, automatically removes messages after they are seen or once a chat is closed. The social media company explained that the Vanish Mode can be used for text chats, emojis, pictures, GIFs, voice messages, and stickers.


Facebook said including ephemeral messaging is one way to attract young users, who solely use messaging apps and do not like sharing posts publicly.


To get Vanish Mode, users need to update their Messenger and Instagram apps. The feature is not a default setting, so users need to activate Vanish Mode within an existing chat by swiping up. The feature is currently available for one-on-one chats, and it will only work if both users agree to use it. Once enabled, a walk-through of Vanish Mode for first-time users will appear on the screen.


Messenger and Instagram will notify users if someone takes a screenshot of a chat in Vanish Mode. Facebook also included block and report options for the safety of its users.


Vanish Mode is currently available in the United States, but Facebook will roll out the new feature to more countries soon.


Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the company would eventually move away from public posts and focus more on private messaging and groups. Plans for Vanish Mode were announced last year as part of Facebook’s goal to make major changes in its messaging experience. Facebook’s recent update also allows its users to communicate across Messenger and Instagram.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Do you agree with Facebook’s plan to move away from public posts and focus more on private messaging and groups? Why or why not?
• Would you be interested in using the Vanish Mode feature? Why or why not?

Discussion B

• What problems have you encountered while using messaging apps? Explain.
• What other messaging features do you think should be developed in the future (e.g. fact-checking features, ability to send large amounts of data)? Discuss.