How To Delete Your Snapchat Messages

How many times have you accidentally sent an embarrassing snap to the wrong person? If you’re like me, it happens pretty often – we send it before we realize what it says, and then it’s too late to take it back! Fortunately, you can delete your old Snapchat messages whenever you want and never be bothered by them again. Here’s how you do it.

A Note About Privacy on Snapchat

Snapchats are stored on your phone, and not in Snapchat’s cloud. That means that deleting a message only deletes it from your device, so you can keep sending it! The exception is if you’re using a Snapstreak or an area with no cell service. For example, take two people who have snapped at each other every day for three months: if they take a break from Snapchat and go without snapping at each other for 30 days (about three weeks), then when they start snapping again all their snaps will disappear because of the streak settings.

The Fun of Using Snapchat

First of all, it’s very addictive. You can set up your own snaps and pictures in a variety of different ways – such as time-lapse (which takes several pictures a second for about 30 seconds) or slow-motion. It’s also super easy to send photos to your friends. Snapchat makes sending photos and videos from your phone quick and easy. The message disappears after an allotted time – unless you save it by pressing down on your screen for more than 3 seconds. Saved media cannot be deleted by anyone other than you!

Who Should Use Snapchat?

Snapchat is extremely popular with young people. In fact, it has more than 200 million active monthly users. That makes it one of the most frequently used social media apps in history.

If you are between 18 and 24 years old and want to connect with your peers on a daily basis, Snapchat is probably worth adding to your phone. It allows you to exchange photos and short videos with friends that automatically disappear after they’ve been viewed (unlike images shared on Facebook or Instagram).

This self-destructing feature adds another layer of privacy and security, making Snapchat a good option for users who want greater control over their personal data online.

What Happens If You Don’t Delete Your Snapchat Message?

If you don’t erase your Snapchat message, it will remain in the recipients’ Snapchats section for a limited time. The message will be marked with a clock icon denoting that it was sent within a 24-hour time frame. While you have no way of knowing how long your recipient is going to keep your picture, shortening that window of opportunity could prevent them from being able to view it after they’ve opened and closed their app.

Alternatives To Deleting Your Message

If you want to make sure that a recipient sees your message but that it can’t be accessed later, Snapchat offers two additional security features. You can set a timer so that once a person opens your message, they have only a certain amount of time (usually 3–10 seconds) to view it before it disappears forever. Or you can add an expiring caption, which means that as soon as someone views your photo or video, it will disappear forever. If you’re worried about screenshots being taken of your message before it disappears, use another platform like iMessage or WhatsApp for sensitive conversations.

Deleting Snapchats with Third-Party Apps

There are a few options when it comes to deleting your snaps from a third-party app, but you’ll want to be careful with your security. If you leave your account logged in on an unsecured computer, and someone were to access that screen, they would also have access to your account. To prevent others from accessing your device as well as Snapchat content, ensure you log out of all devices after using Snapchat. Another tip for additional privacy is changing passwords often and avoiding public Wi-Fi if possible.

Best Times and Places to Send Sensitive Information

When you’re sending sensitive information, it’s a good idea to keep a few things in mind. Whether you’re on your phone or laptop, there are probably times and places that are better than others for typing out your deepest, darkest secrets. For example, if you know your e-mail isn’t going to be monitored at all times by someone who can get into trouble for reading it (your boss or a relative), sending an e-mail from home can increase security and privacy.

However, if you know your friend is monitoring their inbox all day long at work—and especially if they have access to their work e-mail outside of normal business hours—it might be safer to use Snapchat or another photo messaging app.

Best Tips for Sending Sensitive Information Over Snapchat

While Snapchat might be great for posting silly photos and videos, it also offers a few features that are great for sending sensitive information. For example, you can set a Snapchat message to expire after a certain amount of time. If you’re sending someone your credit card number or Social Security number, why not make sure that your payment info is protected?

Just open up a chat with one of your contacts and click on their name at the top of your screen. Now click on Send My Story and you’ll be able to set how long they have access to that image or video. However, keep in mind that once they’ve opened it once (and viewed it) they can screenshot it.