Upcoming Instagram Update to Include Option for Disabling Direct Message Read Receipts

Liam Alexander 08 Nov 2023

Instagram is currently in the process of evaluating a long-requested feature that will allow users the choice to disable read receipts in direct messages (DMs). This update means recipients can read messages without the sender being notified with a "seen" status. Both Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri have shared news of this development on their respective channels, indicating the platform's response to user feedback.

Within the app's settings, particularly under the 'privacy & safety' section for messages, individuals testing the feature will find an option to switch off the read receipts. This control is nestled among other preferences related to users' activity visibility. However, the specifics regarding the extent of the testing group and the timeframe for a broader release remain under wraps.

While this might be a new development for Instagram, it is a feature already familiar to users of another app under the Meta umbrella. WhatsApp, another popular messaging service, provided its users with the ability to disable read receipts as early as 2014, placing Instagram's incoming update well behind by comparison.

Additionally, Instagram is planning to enhance privacy on its platform by implementing default end-to-end encryption for DMs, paralleling efforts already in progress for Facebook Messenger. Meta has announced intentions to complete this security upgrade for Messenger by the year's end, although an exact timeline for Instagram's encryption rollout is yet to be confirmed.

In conclusion, Instagram's upcoming feature to disable read receipts is a step towards empowering users with more control over their privacy in communications. Although arriving significantly later than a similar feature on its sister app WhatsApp, this change is part of a broader effort by Meta to reinforce user privacy across its platforms, including the pivotal move to default end-to-end encryption on messaging services. As the social media landscape continues to evolve, these updates reflect an increasing demand for user-centric privacy features. The community now eagerly awaits the implementation of these promised enhancements, hoping for a seamless and secure messaging experience.