A system and method for concealing and selectively revealing mobile messages is disclosed in which a sender generates a message, such as a text message, an image, or a video. Before being sent, the message is converted into a masked message object by a message masking function, such as a redacting function. The masked message object is transmitted to a recipient. On first being displayed, the message is not readable or viewable, because it is incorporated in a masked message object. The recipient can, however, interact with a touch screen associated with their mobile messaging device. When the recipient touches the screen in a vicinity of the masked message object, all or part of the original text message, image, or video is then displayed in readable or viewable form. Methods are provided to enable a sender of a message to edit or delete the message after it has been sent,