WhatsApp Introduces Read Receipts Feature

WhatsApp offers billions of users around the world the ability to connect with their loved ones through instant messaging. Among the many built-in features, one special option is read receipts, also known as the Blue Ticks feature.

When these settings are enabled, the sender will know when recipients have read their messages, ensuring that important messages are acknowledged. While the read acknowledgment feature is useful in many scenarios, it also raises valid privacy concerns. For example, users may be pressured to respond quickly to messages they read because they know the sender can see their actions.

Fortunately, WhatsApp offers a solution by allowing users to disable read receipts. By doing so, individuals can maintain the freedom to browse messages without communicating their status to the sender. However, this only applies to regular messages, not group chats or voice messages, which still show read receipts. For now, it is not possible to disable these features.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to disable read receipts and last seen data on WhatsApp:

Disable read receipts: Android

Step 1 Open WhatsApp and tap on the three-dot menu icon located at the top right corner of the screen.

Step 2 Select Settings from the drop-down menu.

Step 3 In the Settings option, click on Privacy.

Step 4 Now you can find the “Read receipts” option in the Privacy section.

Step 5 Turn off the switch and you’re done.

Disable read receipts: iPhone

Step 1 Open WhatsApp and tap on the Settings icon located at the bottom right corner of the screen.

Step 2 Select Privacy from the Settings menu.

Step 3 Tap the switch to turn off the Read Receipts option.

This prevents others from seeing if you’ve read their messages. It’s important to note that this feature also means you can’t see if others have read your message.

How to turn off last seen

Step 1 As in the previous steps, open WhatsApp and click on Settings by tapping on the three-dot menu icon.

Step 2 Select Privacy from the Settings menu.

Step 3 Under Privacy, tap on “Last Seen & Online”.

Step 4 Select “Nobody” from the options provided.

This prevents others from seeing when you were last online, providing an extra level of privacy. On the other hand, you will also not be able to view the last seen timestamps of other users if you have disabled this feature.