Instagram is finally testing a feature that will let users turn off read receipts for Instagram DMs. This way, even if you have read someone’s message, they won’t see a “seen” tag at the bottom of the message.
Both Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri announced this feature on their streaming channels.
“We’ve heard your feedback and have begun testing a new feature that lets you turn off read receipts in your direct messages. Soon, people will be able to choose when they let others know when they’ve read their messages,” Mosseri said in the message.
The Instagram boss posted a screenshot of the privacy and security menu for direct messages. You can access this list by clicking on the profile name within the chat. If users are part of the test, they will see a toggle to turn off read receipts under the “Who can see your activity” section.
Meta did not specify the capacity the company is testing these features and when they will be rolled out to all users.
Instagram was really late in launching this feature due to another Meta-owned app WhatsApp launched the ability to turn off read receipts in 2014.
The company also plans to roll out end-to-end default encryption protection for Instagram direct messages once the feature is finished rolling out to Messenger. In August, Meta said the company aims to finish work on enabling end-to-end encryption by default on Messenger by the end of the year.