Self destroying email gmail
You're looking for a way to set up an email that self-destructs after a certain period of time, similar to the concept of "burner emails" or "ephemeral emails". While Gmail doesn't have a built-in feature for self-destructing emails, there are a few workarounds you can use:
Method 1: Use a third-party add-on
There are several third-party add-ons available for Gmail that offer self-destructing email functionality. Here are a few options:
- Sanebox: This add-on allows you to set a timer for your emails to self-destruct after a certain period of time. You can set the timer to anywhere from 1 minute to 1 year.
- Boomerang: This add-on offers a feature called "Boomerang Later" that allows you to schedule an email to be deleted after a certain period of time.
- Snooze: This add-on allows you to schedule an email to be deleted after a certain period of time, as well as snooze it for a later time.
Method 2: Use a temporary email address
Another way to achieve self-destructing emails is to use a temporary email address that is only valid for a short period of time. Here's how:
- Create a new Gmail account specifically for this purpose.
- Set up a forwarding rule in your main Gmail account to forward emails to this temporary account.
- Set a reminder or timer to delete the temporary account after a certain period of time.
Method 3: Use a script
If you're comfortable with coding, you can use a script to automate the process of deleting emails after a certain period of time. Here's an example of how you could use a Google Apps Script to achieve this:
- Create a new script in your Gmail account.
- Use the
getThreads()
method to retrieve the threads you want to self-destruct. - Use a loop to iterate through the threads and delete them after a certain period of time.
Here's some sample code to get you started:
function selfDestructEmails() {
var threads = GmailApp.getThreads();
for (var i = 0; i < threads.length; i++) {
var thread = threads[i];
var timestamp = thread.getLastMessage().getTimestamp();
var timeDiff = (new Date() - timestamp) / 1000;
if (timeDiff > 3600) { // 1 hour
thread.delete();
}
}
}
Keep in mind that these methods may have limitations and may not be suitable for all use cases. Additionally, it's important to note that self-destructing emails may not be suitable for all types of communication, and you should consider the potential consequences of using this type of email.