TL;DR: the option to edit a message after it is sent is awesome but also incomplete. An additional option to view the edit history would complement it.
We are all prone to typos and other grammatical errors so being able to edit already sent messages can be very handy. But the ability to edit messages after the fact makes it also possible to change the actual meaning of the message instead of just refining it. This is problematic because it can be abused by doctoring a conversation. For example, one could change the meaning of a message that had already been replied to and make it seem like the replies were directed to the current meaning of the message instead of the original one and distort the whole conversation. Yes, the "edited" label is there and we can see the time when the most recent edit was made, but that's it. The editor can claim that they didn't change the meaning of the message but only corrected some typo. And, currently, there is no way to verify their claim. A more sick person could even use this loophole to gaslight someone.
Or it could happen the other way around: one could falsely claim that a message which they had replied to has undergone a substantial alteration when it was edited and not just a typo correction. And, again, right now there is no way of verifying the claim objectively.
Or an honest misunderstanding about an edited message between the interlocutors can happen, but currently there is no way of providing an objective perspective to resolve the issue in this case either.
Proposal: add an option to view the edit history of an edited message.
If we could view the edit history of an edited message we would have the best of both worlds—the ability to refine a message after it is already sent and the ability to objectively resolve (even prevent) any dispute about the content of an edited message.
The edit history would be accessed from the context menu of the edited message or by clicking/tapping the "edited" label.
An example of this feature is Facebook posts and comments.
Please share your thoughts.
If you can illustrate what I described above in a picture or video, I will happily include it in this card.
Nice idea, although I do want to add that this should be toggle-able. You might not want to show the edit history in a big channel. Also, to reduce network traffic, it should only be sent on demand, i.e. when the user wants to see the history. Just a thought. From a GUI standpoint, it should probably exist in the context menu rather than open when clicked on the "edited" symbol. It's just more obvious that way. Also, rather than showing all versions on one page, there should be some kind of history slider. Maybe I can make a mockup next friday.
M
Moritz
It should be optional, maybe a user accidentally send private information and wants to remove that without deleting the whole message.
Lisa Riedler
I think as soon as it's optional, it can be abused. If there is personal information in a message, the best way is to just delete it.
P
Pika Pichu
This suggestion was implemented for group admins at some point via the audit log
Caesium Atoms
It should exist even in personal chats in my opinion. But it needs to be optional if both the users in the chat feel its unnecessary. It could probably exist in the same way as the Auto-delete feature so its fair for both parties.
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Also, to reduce network traffic, it should only be sent on demand, i.e. when the user wants to see the history. Just a thought.
From a GUI standpoint, it should probably exist in the context menu rather than open when clicked on the "edited" symbol. It's just more obvious that way. Also, rather than showing all versions on one page, there should be some kind of history slider. Maybe I can make a mockup next friday.