Line becomes latest app to add Snapchat-inspired self-destructing feature

From Facebook to Tinder, looks like all apps want to be a part of the Snapchat-inspired ephemeral feature. The latest to jump onto the bandwagon is China’s Line messaging app. Line has just updated its app on Android as well as iOS to support encrypted and disappearing chat options.   Basically, it will let users send content to their friends as hidden messages/photos, which will not display until users click on them. Moreover, the message or photo will disappear depending upon the time set by the sender. Sounds familiar? Yes, it’s a leaf directly out of the popular Snapchat app. Besides, one will also find improvements to Timeline notifications, some design changes and bug fixes.   This encrypted chat option can be accessed by simply tapping on the name of the contact you want to begin a conversation with, and selecting the Hidden Chat option. While all Hidden Chats are encrypted, it will work only when both users have updated their Line app to the latest version. This feature is currently unsupported on Chinese and Japanese accounts and on the BlackBerry, Firefox, Nokia, Windows Phone, and PC versions of Line.   Snapchat is one of the most popular smartphone apps right now.   In fact, after a failed attempt at acquiring it, Facebook lately launched its own Snapchat-inspired app called Slingshot. This app allows users to take photos, videos and then add drawings or funny comments to them. The idea is that you then have to ‘sling’ it to a contact and they can’t see a ‘sling’ until they sling something back at you as well.   The slings don’t last on the app, and once you’ve seen it, the message or picture will disappear. We wonder if self-destructing messages will soon become a standard feature on most messaging apps.