Strings is a messaging service that lets you delete those drunk texts

04 Jan 2015 • engadget.com

With Strings, users can converse with pictures, videos and text, but if people want to save any of those locally, they have to ask you for your permission. Even better is that a user can edit data on other people’s devices, so if you carelessly send the wrong picture or use the wrong word, you can delete it whenever you need to. It’s free to download, and the app even mirrors Snapchat’s solution to the dreaded screenshot problem. If the recipient takes a screenshot, not only will you be informed, but they’ll be given a warning too, which is something, at least.

All this fascination with the ability to undo and therefore rewrite personal history. You’d think there would be more widespread belief in “rewriting history” government conspiracy theories.

It’s a mess I know. We’re still trying to adjust to the idea of more and more of our lives (public and private) being “on the record”. I’m not sure letting us so easily delete our mistakes is the correct answer. Though honestly I’m not at all sure what the answer is.