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Instagram users with an obsession for privacy will soon get a desired feature. The Meta-owned platform reported that it’s testing a new feature that lets users turn off read receipts on direct messages.
There are many times that you don’t want others to see when you’ve viewed their messages. The current Instagram system, which notifies a user when the recipient has read the message, might cause frustration. Some users may even consider seeing a message and not replying to it insulting.
Instagram lets you turn off read receipts on DMs
To address the issue, Instagram was prompted to test a feature that lets you turn off read receipts on DMs. Users who leave people on read due to the high number of messages will undoubtedly find this new feature helpful. Of course, a similar feature is found in WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, and Meta is now adding it to Instagram DMs.
“You asked, we listened. We heard your feedback and have started testing a new feature that lets you turn read receipts off in your DMs. Soon, people will be able to choose when to let others see when they’re read their messages.” Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri wrote on its broadcast channel.
It remains to be seen if the feature is adjustable for individual chats or if a toggle on Instagram’s privacy settings enables the feature for whole DMs. An ideal case could be letting users turn off or on the feature for individual chats. Instagram might also need to restructure its Settings menu.
This will give you more control over messaging on the platform
By letting users turn off read receipts on DMs, Instagram could give users more control over their messaging experience. It could also reduce the pressure associated with instant repose on messaging with people. Meanwhile, Instagram is still testing the feature with a small group of its users. For the next update, you can expect the feature to land on your app, too.
Most of Instagram’s recent privacy features were focused on limiting the visibility of posts and Stories to a particular group. The platform has recently been spotted testing a feature that only shows your posts to your Close Friends circle. Right now, you can only share Stories with your Close Friends list.