Signal Launches Stories Feature for Smartphones

Users of the encrypted instant messaging app can now share texts, images or videos which will automatically expire in 24 hours.

Announced last month, the Stories feature is available in the latest version of the app for Android and iOS users. The desktop version is expected to be released later on.

As with all other features on Signal, stories have end-to-end encryption and thus cannot be seen by anyone who is not specified by the story’s author. Users can restrict whom to show their story. One can either allow certain people from their contacts or specific groups (for example, family, friends or co-workers) to view their story, or hide the story manually from some people.

People use them, people want them, so we’re providing a way to do stories privately. And without having to wade through a sea of ads,

Signal Community Writer Nina Berman  says, defending this seemingly unusual decision of the service which puts a premium on privacy and security. Signal adds that Stories are "one of the most common feature requests" from its users all over the world.

For people who are not into stories and do not want to see or share, there is a possibility to completely disable stories. Luckily, no one will find out that others opted out of watching their content.