You're of course confirming that you saw it, which is helpful, but at the same time letting them know that a reply will likely be coming later. You can convey a lot by just reading a message and not replying. When I send a message letting you know I'm on my way and I'm going to be 10 minutes late, I don't need a "K" or "thanks for letting me know" or emoji response - I just need to know that you saw the message. Not every message needs a reply or acknowledgement. I really want you to turn back on your read receipts, for everyone's sake. I suppose I understand why you may want to turn off read receipts, to preserve some semblance of "privacy" perhaps, but I also know it's a rather selfish and annoying trend that frankly just makes you seem rude in exchange for no actual benefit. Most chat apps let you turn off read receipts, and some people care enough to do so. Watch for a bit longer, and you know that they've actually seen the message.īut message read receipts have turned into a point of contention for some. Press send, and you immediately know whether the message was actually delivered at the other person's device. On top of high-resolution media, audio clips, huge groups, reactions and more, one of the biggest revelations has been delivery and read receipts for messages. One of the biggest benefits of modern messaging systems is the ability to send more than just basic text chats back and forth.