The digital world has changed what we do and the way we think. It has also led to a culture of oversharing, where anything that can be shared is shared. In the process, it has created vast stores of data, which record our every word and deed.
This blog post examines how self-destructing messages help us keep digital information private by making content evaporate after a set time period. The App Store tells us that this functionality is preferred by nearly 3 out of 4 iPhone users in America.
The Case For Self-Destructing Messages
Self-destructing messages are built into nearly every app and platform that allows a text message or email to be sent. This is because they allow you to decide what happens to your private note message.
What Are Self-Destructing Messages?
Self-destructing messages are an extension of the cloud storage idea where content is only available to you, where and when you want it.
Self-destruction allows the message to be inaccessible to anyone else after a set time period. Just as a train leaves the station and never arrives at its destination if it goes off track, so will your message. It will go up in smoke because your message has a set time of self-destruction and not a set time of arrival.
How Does Self-Destructing Work?
Your message will self-destruct at a random time chosen by you, when it is viewed again by another person or device of your choosing through the app or website. The timing of the self-destruction can be scheduled to occur at a later date and time.
What Are The Benefits Of Self-Destructing Messages?
The benefits of self-destructing messages are manifold. They distinguish themselves from normal text and email by:
The message is limited in terms of its availability only to the recipients you choose and for as long as you choose. This can be an enormous benefit for businesses that would rather their content was accessible only to customers, or consumers who want to keep their private information (in this case, a message) out of the hands of marketers and advertisers.
New timescales are being set where privacy is as important as content. Consumers are telling tech companies what they want. This can be seen by the 43% of iPhone users in America who prefer self-destructing messages over the standard messaging features offered by Apple. The new age of communications has given rise to a new way of thinking about how we save, share and communicate. How we used to share everything is now changing.
