Google Messages for Android Gets ‘Delete for Everyone’ Feature in Group RCS Chats: What You Need to Know

Google Messages Takes a Step Towards More Control Over Group Chats

Imagine being able to delete a message from a group conversation, ensuring that it’s completely removed from the chat history. Sounds like a dream come true, right? Well, Google is making that a reality with its latest update to Google Messages for Android. In this post, we’ll dive into the details of this new feature and what it means for users.

The Power to Delete for Everyone

As reported by 9to5Google, the upcoming update to Google Messages will introduce the ability to delete a chat message for everyone in a group RCS conversation. This feature is part of Universal Profile 2.7, which also includes the ability to edit, recall, and delete messages for oneself and the recipient. When deleting a message, users will be presented with two options: the existing behavior of deleting the message for themselves, and a new option to delete the message for everyone in the conversation.

The Catch

While this feature is a significant step towards more control over group chats, it’s not without its limitations. According to a user who has access to the beta release, the “Delete for everyone” option is only available in larger group conversations with 12 or more participants. Smaller chats and one-to-one conversations currently lack this option. Additionally, Google notes that messages may still be seen by others on older app versions, which could potentially limit the effectiveness of this feature.

What’s Next?

Google is not stopping at just deleting messages for everyone. The company is also working on other group chat features, including the ability to join conversations via invite links and QR codes, as well as @-mentions. These features will likely be rolled out in future updates to Google Messages.

Actionable Insights

So, what does this mean for users? For one, it’s a step towards more control over group chats, allowing users to correct mistakes or remove unwanted messages from the conversation history. However, it’s also important to note that this feature is not without its limitations, and users should be aware of the potential caveats.

Conclusion

Google’s latest update to Google Messages is a significant step towards more control over group chats. While there are still some limitations to this feature, it’s an important step towards giving users more agency over their online conversations. As we continue to see more updates and features rolled out, it will be exciting to see how Google Messages evolves to meet the changing needs of its users.

Summary

  • Google Messages is getting the ability to delete a chat message for everyone in a group RCS conversation.
  • The feature is part of Universal Profile 2.7, which also includes the ability to edit, recall, and delete messages for oneself and the recipient.
  • The “Delete for everyone” option is only available in larger group conversations with 12 or more participants.
  • Google is also working on other group chat features, including invite links, QR codes, and @-mentions.