The Japanese messaging app Reservation It arrived in our country positioning itself as one of the best alternatives to whatsapp Thanks to its blend of chat app and social network. It also included a system of stickers which caused a sensation at the time of its launch. However, over time many users have abandoned the application after the appearance of other systems such as Snapchat on Android.
Now LINE is looking at one of its most direct competitors to try to recover a large part of its lost users and is presenting the ephemeral messagesThis new feature is currently exclusive to Google's operating system. After its latest update, the application will include messages that disappear after 24 hours.
The update, which will arrive first on Android in the coming days, will allow users to flag a post before it is published. self destruction after a day. To do this, simply click on the clock icon which appears in the upper right corner when preparing a new publication.
The concept of content that expires 24 hours after being published is what made an app as well-known today as Snapchat famous, which has gradually been gaining ground on other popular apps such as TwitterFacebook Messenger or LINE, the app that is now looking to it to present this new feature.
This isn't the only new feature coming to LINE on Android after the latest update. In version 6.8.0 Fun effects for the Android app are coming to the video callsThis way, we can add fun filters to our image while talking to any contact, filters very much in the style of… Snapchat.
Go for Snapchat
This new feature from LINE isn't the first clue that the instant messaging app intends to become more like Snapchat on Android. The developers behind the social network, or instant messaging app, have already invested 40 millones de euros in buying an app with services very similar to those of Snapchat, for which the app has become famous: Snow.
Posts that disappear from the Timeline
LINE's integrated social network, its TimelineIt has been gaining prominence. What began almost as an anecdote is now a space for sharing thoughtsPhotos, stickers, and links to friends. With ephemeral messages, in addition to the buttons for composing a post, there are also new clock buttonWhen you press it, the publication only stays online It lasts for 24 hours and then automatically deletes itself without leaving a visible trace. It is not possible to choose a different duration: the timeframe is fixed.
In addition, the Timeline receives other improvements that facilitate its daily use: now you can link directly to specific publications and save erasers to continue later. It also enhances search by tags to locate past posts that have been tagged, with results limited to public posts.
This ephemeral approach favors the spontaneity and reduces the fear of “over-posting”. For creators and brands, it’s a way to share timely content without saturating the feed, and for users, a way to test ideas or to express oneself without permanence.
Privacy: secret chats, timers, and encryption
LINE had already experimented with the idea of the ephemeral in the past through secret chats with timers similar to those of other apps. In those chats, it was possible to set a self-destruct time. from seconds to a weekOnce the time had elapsed, the message would disappear from the chat window and the service's servers. This feature was removed when the platform extended the end-to-end encryption to all conversations.
Today, end-to-end encryption protects chats by default (unless disabled), while ephemeral Timeline posts provide privacy by design On a social level. It's worth remembering that, even though the content is deleted after 24 hours, nothing prevents a recipient from making a screenshot; best practice It's about not sharing anything you wouldn't share in a private chat.
Effects in video calls: filters and expressions
The video calls LINE also receives a boost with real-time effects applicable to your face, without additional apps. To activate them, tap the emoji icon at the bottom of the screen during the call. The effects may not be available on all devices, as they depend on the hardware and version.
You'll find two main types of new features: on the one hand, filters that modify the colorimetry for a more elegant or fun look; on the other hand, masks and expressions that react to your gesture with hearts, angry tones, and other animations to add more expressiveness to the conversation. These features They arrive first on Android and will later be extended to iOS.
The combination of expiring posts and video call effects brings the LINE experience closer to the visual language that's successful on mobile, reinforcing its identity as a platform of messaging + social network and offering modern tools for sharing quickly, creatively, and with greater control over content permanence.
