Every platform is slightly different, but typically users can delete messages by holding down or right clicking on the message and selecting the ‘delete/remove/unsend’ option.

Someone may want to erase something inappropriate, mean, or rude that they sent to another person before they read it. There could be sensitive information (e.g. card details, address, bank account details) that they don’t want to be available anymore. They might also just want to tidy up their chat!

Whatever the reason, it’s important to note that most of these ‘delete for everyone’ options do not erase the action of sending a message – only the content of the message itself. It’s also impossible to ensure the recipient has not saved, downloaded, or taken a screenshot of the message before it was deleted, so the message may still exist on another device.

We’ve rounded up some of the most popular platforms for children and young people to give you an idea of how they might be using this feature.

One of the most recent updates to the Apple iOS software has included the ability to ‘unsend’ sent messages in iMessage.

While this platform is now available to use on multiple devices at once, the same account will be able to delete messages on all devices a WhatsApp account is signed in on.

The original home of ‘disappearing’ messages, Snapchat has been allowing its users to delete messages since 2018.

This platform incorporates messages from friends, pages, and businesses as well as ‘big brother’ platform Facebook’s features (e.g. Marketplace, Stories, etc.) into one place.

‘Sliding into DMs’ might be popular on Instagram, but it is also where users reactions to other users’ stories are shown, even if the only message sent is an emoji.