Facebook’s Vanish Mode arrives on Messenger, Instagram

Facebook today announced its new Snapchat-like feature called “Vanish Mode” on its Messenger and Instagram service.

In Vanish Mode, Messenger and Instagram users can send text chats, emoji, pictures, GIFs, voice messages, and stickers, that will disappear immediately once they’re viewed by other parties and the chat window is closed.

However, unlike Snapchat, Vanish Mode is not a default setting. Instead, users are meant to enable it from within an existing chat by swiping up on their mobile device’s screen while in the chat.

Some users may have already noticed Vanish Mode in the chat settings on Messenger.

Vanish Mode will appear in both Messenger and Instagram as a distinct option you can turn on and off in the settings of any particular chat message.

In a one-to-one chat, either person can turn disappearing messages on or off. In groups, admins will have control over the new feature.

Once enabled, new messages sent in the individual or group chat will disappear after seven days.

Facebook says Vanish Mode is launching starting today on Messenger in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Peru, and Bangladesh, and soon in Canada, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and a few other countries.