Instagram is finally listening to its users and testing a feature that many have been requesting for a long time: the ability to turn off read receipts in direct messages. The feature, which is currently only available to a select group of users, allows you to hide the blue ticks that show when you have seen someone's message.
Read receipts are a common feature in many messaging apps, but they can also cause stress and anxiety for some users. Some people may feel obligated to reply quickly or avoid opening a message if they don't want to reveal that they have read it. Others may feel hurt or ignored by someone who has seen their message but not responded.
Instagram has not officially announced the feature, but some users have noticed it in their settings and shared screenshots on social media. According to the screenshots, the feature can be accessed by tapping on the three-dot menu in the top right corner of the DM screen and selecting “Message Controls”. There, users can switch on or off the option to “Allow Seen Receipts” for their messages.
If the feature is turned off, users will not be able to see if their messages have been read by the recipient, and vice versa. However, they will still be able to see if the recipient is online, typing, or has replayed a video or voice message. The feature also does not affect the delivery status of the messages, which is indicated by a single or double check mark.
The feature is similar to the one that WhatsApp, another app owned by Facebook, offers to its users. WhatsApp allows users to disable read receipts for all messages, or to selectively turn them on or off for specific contacts or groups. However, WhatsApp also has a trade-off: if users turn off read receipts, they will not be able to see when their own messages have been read by others.
It is unclear when Instagram will roll out the feature to all users, or if it will make any changes to it based on the feedback from the testers. Instagram has been experimenting with various features to give users more control and privacy over their messages, such as the option to unsend messages, the vanish mode that deletes messages after they are seen, and the recently added option to limit who can message you.
The new feature to hide read receipts is a welcome addition for many Instagram users who value their privacy and want to communicate without pressure or worry. It also shows that Instagram is paying attention to its users' needs and preferences, and trying to improve its user experience.
Instagram has finally responded to user demand and is testing an ability for many to disable read receipts in direct messages. Although only available to certain users at present, this feature allows for you to mute those pesky little blue ticks that show when someone has seen your messages and hides the blue ticks that display when someone has read yours.
Read receipts are an integral feature in many messaging apps, yet can cause undue stress for some users. Some individuals might feel obliged to reply quickly or avoid opening an email if their read receipt shows it has been read – others could feel hurt that someone has seen and read their message and hasn't replied, leaving them vulnerable and upset by someone who read it but didn't reply back in kind.
Instagram has not officially unveiled this feature yet; however, users have noticed it in their settings and shared screenshots on social media. According to these screenshots, access can be gained by tapping on the three-dot menu in the top right corner of DM screen and selecting “Message Controls”, where one may toggle off or on “Allow Seen Receipts” for their messages.
Users will no longer be able to see if their messages have been read by recipients and vice versa; however, they will still be able to determine whether someone online, typing, replaying video/voice messages etc has seen it or read them; additionally this feature does not impact delivery status which will still display with either one or two check marks for messages sent and received respectively.
Facebook-owned app WhatsApp also allows its users to customize read receipt settings; in particular, WhatsApp allows for either universal disabling of read receipts for all or selective control for specific contacts or groups – however if users disable read receipts altogether they won't know when their own messages have been opened by others.
Instagram has yet to announce when or if they will rollout this feature across all users or make adjustments based on feedback from testers, yet several experimental features aim at giving more control and privacy over messages; including unsend messages, vanish mode that deletes them after viewing, and recently added option which restrict who can message you.
Instagram's new feature to hide read receipts will surely come as welcome news to users who value privacy, preferring unbureaucratic and worry-free communication. Furthermore, this change demonstrates their attention towards their needs and preferences while continuously trying to enhance user experiences.
