Instagram testing an updated 'Vanish Mode', renamed to 'Disappearing Messages'

Some Instagram users have noticed a rather random change in the direct messaging experience. It looks like what was once called “Vanish Mode” might be getting a makeover, or at least a new name: “Disappearing Messages.” But this doesn’t seem to be a simple name change. It’s coming with some changes that have folks talking about it, but not in a positive way.

A few Instagram users claim their chats now say “Disappearing Messages” instead of “Vanish Mode.” This change seems to be rolling out slowly, meaning not everyone is seeing it yet. Those who have experienced the update are finding it a bit of a mixed bag.

First off, the new mode has ditched the cool dark theme that made Vanish Mode stand out. Now, when you switch to disappearing messages, there’s no special visual cue like before. This has left some users scratching their heads, wondering if they’ve even turned on the feature.

Here’s a screenshot shared by a user on Reddit:

Another big change is all the notifications. Now, every time you or someone else in the chat toggles disappearing messages on or off, there’s a notification that sticks around. This can be pretty annoying, especially if you are just testing out the feature or accidentally activate it. Users have reported that these notifications are not only visually intrusive but also make the chat jump to the top of your DM list, even if no actual message was sent.

Interestingly, the update isn’t uniform across all chats for everyone. Some users are seeing “Disappearing Messages” in certain chats while others still have “Vanish Mode.” I tried checking to see if I could replicate this change in any of my DMs but couldn’t. This inconsistency is leading to confusion and questions about whether this is just a test or if Instagram plans to roll it out to everyone eventually.

Instagram hasn’t officially said anything about this change, but the limited chatter online suggests it might be in the testing phase. We’ll keep an eye out for any further news about the change and will update the article if there’s something to share.

In other Instagram news, the platform’s recent update to a rectangular profile grid has also stirred some controversy among its user base. Additionally, Instagram has now removed third-party AR filters from the app, which was announced earlier.

That said, have you noticed the new Disappearing Messages replacing Vanish Mode on your Instagram account? Let us know in the comments below.