Embodiments of the invention are directed to a computer-implemented method of managing message relationships in a messaging system. The computer-implemented method includes receiving, using a processor system, a modification to a first message. The processor system is used to perform a significance-level evaluation of the modification to the first message. Based at least in part on a first result of the significance-level evaluation, the first message is deleted and the modification to the first message is maintained. Based at least in part on a second result of the significance-level evaluation, the first message is maintained; the modification to the first message is stored in a database; and the first message is associated with the modification to the first message in the database.