What happens when a contact deletes messages in WhatsApp - briefly?
When a contact deletes messages in WhatsApp, the messages are removed from their device but remain visible on your device unless you have also deleted them. This means that while they no longer see the messages, you still can until you choose to delete them yourself.
What happens when a contact deletes messages in WhatsApp - in detail?
When a contact deletes messages in WhatsApp, several events occur behind the scenes that ensure the integrity and privacy of the communication for both parties involved.
Firstly, it is crucial to understand that WhatsApp does not provide a traditional "delete for everyone" feature. Instead, users can delete messages from their device or from the chat history on their own phone. This action only removes the message from the user's local device and does not affect the recipient’s chat history. The deleted message will still appear in the recipient’s chat window unless they also decide to delete it manually.
However, WhatsApp offers a "Delete for Me" feature that allows users to remove messages from their own device. When a user selects this option, the message is permanently deleted from their local storage and cannot be recovered. This action does not notify the recipient or alter their chat history in any way. It simply removes the message from the sender’s view.
Moreover, WhatsApp also provides an "Delete for Everyone" feature, which allows users to delete messages within a specific time frame (seven minutes) after sending them. When this option is selected, the message is removed from both the sender's and recipient's chat history. This feature works by replacing the original message with a notification stating that the message was deleted. It is important to note that while WhatsApp strives to delete the message from all devices, it may not always be successful if the message has already been read or forwarded.
In terms of data storage, even when messages are deleted, traces of them can still exist in WhatsApp's databases and backups. WhatsApp regularly backs up chat histories to cloud services such as Google Drive or iCloud, depending on the user’s device. These backups include deleted messages until the backup is updated with new data. It is advisable for users who wish to permanently remove all traces of a message to also delete their WhatsApp backups.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning that even though messages can be deleted from both devices, there are still potential security risks involved. Screenshots taken by recipients before the message was deleted can preserve the content indefinitely. Additionally, law enforcement agencies may have the capability to retrieve deleted messages through legal processes and forensic tools.
In conclusion, while WhatsApp provides features that allow users to delete messages from their own devices or from both sender and recipient’s chat histories within a limited time frame, it is essential for users to be aware of the persistence of data in backups and the potential for screenshots and legal retrieval.