Disclosed are systems and methods for automatically deleting messages from a recipient's inbox. The disclosed systems and methods provide the ability for automatic actions to be taken on delivered messages based on a passage of time. This enables a sender of messages, email service provider and/or email platform to exert control over sent messages to limit the number and type of operations that may be performed on such messages. For example, operations such as saving, forwarding, printing, copying, or otherwise duplicating the message and/or message data can be prohibited and all together rendered impossible. The disclosed systems and methods enables the purging of messages and associated message data from a recipient's inbox at a certain specified time, after the passage of a pre-determined amount of time, or upon the detection of a specified event.