A vlogger claimed in a video that Meta has removed the option to delete messages sent between two users on Facebook (FB) Messenger. This is false.
“Tinanggal na ang unsent feature doon sa Facebook Messenger chat ni Facebook Meta (Meta removed the unsen[d] feature for Facebook Messenger chat), was the introduction of a Feb. 3 video by FB page Story of Anthony.
Specifically, the video demonstrated that FB Messenger’s feature to unsend or delete messages delivered between two users was no longer available, but the option to delete a message for the sender was working.
Meta did not remove the Unsend a Message feature on FB’s chat platform. The issue has been fixed, a spokesperson for Meta told VERA Files Fact Check.
“We recently fixed an issue where people were unable to use the Unsend a Message feature on Messenger. We apologize for the inconvenience,” the spokesperson said.
The video appeared the same day multiple Filipino netizens claimed that FB Messenger’s Unsend a Message feature was not working. Some speculated it was a glitch which could be resolved by updating the Messenger app.
Meta did not disclose what caused the issue, nor did it say how they fixed the bug.
As of publishing time, the Unsend a Message feature on Messenger is working. FB has an existing tutorial on how to use the feature on the desktop app and the desktop Messenger app.
In the video’s caption, the vlogger wrote he would wait for the “unsend” feature to come back. Still, several netizens called him out for spreading false information and contradicted his claim.
Story of Anthony’s erroneous video got a total of 4,500 reactions, 1,300 comments, and 478,000 views.
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(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)
