Let’s talk about Facebook messenger read receipt.
If you use Facebook Messenger, you’re likely familiar with the “handy” little feature that shows the sender of a message when the recipient has read it.
On a web browser or the mobile app, it shows the recipient’s profile picture on the lower right when they have read it. My conclusion about this feature is …
It is creepy.
I don’t think I am alone in that sentiment.
This feature has at least two ways to make people feel anxious or uncomfortable.
First, if you send someone a message, you see they read it, then they don’t respond immediately, or even soon. If you’re feeling or are naturally insecure, this feature may amp up that sensation. “What the hey! How come they haven’t written back yet?!”
On a side note, I find that to be one of the major cons of the digital & social media age – a new unwritten expectation of being available constantly.
Second, the other side of the equation is more of a burden.
I DON’T THINK IT’S ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS TO KNOW WHEN I READ YOUR MESSAGE.
For one, it breeds the insecurity I mentioned above. I always thought read receipts on regular email were invasive, too. Perhaps that is why they were never widely adopted.
Why I could do without Facebook Messenger read receipts
I resist the notion of read receipts because I find them to be an invasion of privacy and an invitation for the message-sending party to expect an instant response. Perhaps that is a faulty perception on my part, but that is how it seems.
Many of us lead busy lives and try to fit social media in amongst the cracks and transition periods in our schedules. (As an aside, it is easy to spend too much time on social media without meaning to, as I wrote about earlier.)
Let’s say I read your message in the downtime right before an appointment. You see that, but then the remainder of my waking hours that day are already accounted for, and I don’t plan to get back on social media.
Or, let’s say your message includes a solicitation or a question that I need to think about, research, or check with other people, who also have busy schedules, before getting back to you. I may not have time to do that research in the next 24 hours, but I know you know I’ve seen your message. Ah, the dilemma.
My desire to be a reliable friend, family member, and colleague compels me to respond to messages as soon as I can- sometimes even pushing aside things I had planned to take the time to reply – and sometimes because I feel an unspoken pressure to do so.
Wrap Up + Good News
That captures the heart of why I dislike read receipts so much. I’d prefer to reply to messages with a thorough, thought-out response on my terms and timeline, not just because someone sees that I’ve read it and expects an instant response.
This has been updated as of 2/8/24 to contain good news! Now there is a way to disable Facebook messenger read receipts. This is a welcome option that wasn’t available until recently. Learn how to turn off Facebook Messenger read receipts here.
Anyone else out there think read receipts are creepy? Comments are always welcome.
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