Telegram now offers auto-delete option for messages and invites

Bengaluru: Telegram has added new features to its messaging app as its popularity surges in India and other markets amid the ongoing confusion over WhatsApp’s new privacy policy.

Users can now enable an auto-delete timer in all Telegram chats, which will automatically erase messages for all participants in either 24 hours or seven days. Telegram said the feature will work only with messages for which the user sets a timer, and that old messages will remain in their chat histories. In groups and channels, only admins can set or modify the timer. The feature was previously only available for secret chats.