[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Seoul, Korea – Kakao has significantly improved the message deletion feature in KakaoTalk, allowing users to delete sent messages within 24 hours, up from the previous 5-minute limit.
This update, announced on the 12th, marks the first major revision of the deletion feature since it was first introduced in August 2018, nearly seven years ago. With this new change, users will have a full day to delete messages they have already sent.
In addition to extending the time window for message deletion, Kakao has updated the way deleted messages are displayed to ensure that users cannot determine who deleted the message.
Previously, when a message was deleted, the sender's speech bubble would display a note indicating the deletion, revealing the person responsible for removing the message. With the new update, the message deletion will simply appear as “Message Deleted” in the feed, without identifying who deleted it.
This update will be gradually rolled out across mobile and PC devices. A Kakao spokesperson commented, "Through this update, we’ve aimed to better reflect user needs, reduce the pressure in conversations, and create a smoother communication environment."
Kakao has been introducing a series of regular updates this year, including new features for greater convenience. In February, Kakao added a tag feature in "Chats with Me," allowing it to be used as a notepad. In March, the number of images users can send in a single message was expanded from 30 to 120. They also introduced a feature allowing users to search messages from specific friends in a chat. In June, they simplified access to the "Scheduled Message" feature, which was previously available only through a separate menu.
KakaoTalk is preparing to evolve beyond a simple messaging app into a platform that includes content discovery, exploration, and relationship-based social features. The app is expected to undergo a full overhaul from next month until the end of the year, with various new artificial intelligence (AI) features planned.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
