Vanish mode
A mode in Instagram/Messenger chats where messages are deleted automatically as soon as you leave the chat and close it. A temporary, ephemeral conversation that leaves no trace in the history — turn it on for a moment, turn it off again.
Mechanic: you swipe up in an existing chat to activate vanish mode; everything sent while it's on disappears once both people leave the thread. Distinct from disappearing messages with a timer (which delete after a set time) — vanish mode deletes based on closing the chat, and is a mode you toggle on temporarily rather than a permanent setting. Use case: a quick, sensitive, or lighthearted exchange you don't want lingering. Part of Meta's ephemeral features inspired by Snapchat's legacy. Like all of these, it's bypassed by screenshots. Related to disappearing message and screenshot culture.