WhatsApp is the most popular instant messaging application, and therefore it is not uncommon for users to sometimes confuse some of the features that are added. We have talked about the third blue tick, which does not exist nor is it expected, and the latest news has been the channels and access codes.
Now, a function that is generating some confusion among users of this messaging service returns to the main scene. It is a little flag, which is present in some messages. We clear all doubts and explain to you What is it and how can you take advantage of it?.
What does the flag that appears in WhatsApp messages mean?
For some time now, you may have noticed how a small icon appears in some messages, a little flag that is placed next to the time the messages were sent. Contrary to what we may think, it is not a function that WhatsApp randomly places in messages, but a feature that was announced not too long ago.
This is what the flag-shaped icon looks like on WhatsApp
Nor should we confuse this icon with the small star because this is a characteristic that allows us highlight messages within a chat. Specifically, it’s called “starred messages” and you can mark any as such by holding down your finger on it. After this, the options will be displayed in the top bar, where we will tap on the star to highlight it.
On the contrary, the flag icon is only present when the chat in question has message deletion activated. This function allows us to open a new conversation with a contact that we have in our agenda, but its peculiarity is that messages will automatically be deleted once the time we establish has passed (24 hours, 7 or 90 days).
How and what you can use it for
Once we have activated this option, our contact icon will show a small clock, indicating that automatic deletion is enabled in this conversation. But first, let’s explain How active.
In any existing chat, or in a new one, we will tap on the three vertically arranged dots, which are shown in the upper right part of the screen. With the options displayed, click on “Temporary messages”. On the next screen, we will establish the period after which they will be deleted. And we would be ready to take advantage of the function at hand.
In a temporary chat, the “flag” allows us to save messages
Now, in a conversation with automatic deletion, if we leave our finger pressed on a message, the top bar options will changeand instead of showing the star of the featured messages, we will see the flag icon, which is actually more similar to a bookmark.
All you have to do is tap on the icon in question so that even though the chat ends up deleted after the period we have set, these messages are still available. Therefore, it is a suitable function to preserve messages in a chat that we will lose in the future.
