Storage and processing of ephemeral messages

A method comprising:

• storing messages received from client devices in a volatile memory for a standard time period;
• moving the stored messages to a non-volatile memory after they have been stored in the volatile memory for the standard time period;
• determining that a first message stored in the volatile memory includes an indicator for extended storage in the volatile memory;
• moving the first message from the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory after it has been stored in the volatile memory for an extended time period that is longer than the standard time period;
• and
• deleting the stored messages from the volatile or non-volatile memory based on detection of a triggering event.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program code which, when executed, is operative to cause a computing device to perform operations comprising:

• storing messages received from client devices in a volatile memory for a standard time period;
• moving the stored messages to a non-volatile memory after they have been stored in the volatile memory for the standard time period;
• determining that a first message stored in the volatile memory includes an indicator for extended storage in the volatile memory;
• moving the first message from the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory after it has been stored in the volatile memory for an extended time period that is longer than the standard time period;
• and
• deleting the stored messages from the volatile or non-volatile memory based on detection of a triggering event.