WhatsApp is reportedly testing a new feature for disappearing messages that changes how the countdown works. Instead of disappearing based only on a fixed, time-based expiry after a message is sent, the app would start a countdown only when the recipient actually opens and reads the message. Under this approach, chats would not vanish immediately on a schedule; they would disappear after the message has been read and the “after reading” timer completes. The feature is described as an “After Reading” timer for disappearing messages, and both outlets frame it as an in-development experiment rather than a widely available update. The testing aims to make the disappearance timing depend on user interaction—specifically, when the recipient reads the content—rather than purely on elapsed time. If rolled out, it could change how disappearing conversations behave for both individuals and groups, depending on how WhatsApp implements reading detection and timer synchronization. As of now, details about availability, timelines, and rollout scope are not provided in the reports.