Instagram Testing Feature to Disable Direct Message Read Receipts

The ability to disable read receipts for Instagram direct messages is finally being tested by Instagram. In this manner, the person whose message you have read won't be able to see the "seen" label beneath it.

Adam Mosseri and Mark Zuckerberg both made announcements about this functionality on their broadcast platforms.

"We've started testing a new functionality that allows you to disable read receipts in direct messages after hearing your comments. In the message, Mosseri stated that "people will soon be able to choose when to let others know when they've read their messages."

The head of Instagram shared a screenshot of the direct messaging privacy and safety options. Tapping on the name of the profile underneath a chat will bring up this menu. Users who are included in the test will see a toggle under the “Who can see your activity” section that allows them to disable read receipts.

When these functionalities will be made available to all users and in what capacity the company is testing them are not made clear by Meta.

When you consider that another Meta-owned program, WhatsApp, introduced the ability to disable read receipts in 2014, Instagram is extremely behind schedule in implementing this functionality.

After it completes the Messenger implementation of that functionality, the firm also intends to implement default end-to-end encryption security for Instagram direct messages. By the end of the year, Meta hopes to have completed the process of making end-to-end encryption the default setting on Messenger, as stated in August.