To not understand why people turn off read receipts on WhatsApp

Read receipts don't actually tell you that the message has been read, just that the person has clicked on the message.

I often accidentally click on a message when I mean to click another one (and so move onto the message I actually meant to go to without reading the first one) or I'll click on the message, read the first line, realise it needs more of my attention than I can give it right now and plan to read it properly later.

In both cases, the sender would get a read receipt. In both cases I haven't read the message properly.

Yes, you are being unreasonable. People turn off their read receipts because they don't want to feel monitored. I'll often be out and about or working when a message pops up and I don't want the person who has sent the message expecting that I'm getting busy immediately with whatever they want.

Also, sometimes I'll read messages at weird times. If it's 3 am and I'm checking messages, I don't want people seeing that and judging it or mentioning it in the wrong company. Same if it's during work hours or when I'm meant to be focusing on someone's husband's speech or concert or whatever.

Honestly, I get the strong impression that you're seeing a flurry of switching off because you're pressuring people.

Your privacy settings apply to all your messages - so they may have turned their read receipts off for another reason unrelated to you, but it means that none of their messages will show read receipts from anyone

Im going to experiment

I turn them off because my husband has a habit of sending me messages like “they haven’t got 4 pint semi skimmed in Asda what should I do?” rather than engaging his brain. If he sees I’ve read it he’ll then send
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until I respond. I’m at work when he does this btw.

I never don’t respond to proper questions though.

I turned mine off when I started getting spam messages from people I didn’t know in other countries. But I do confirm plans with my actual friends and family so I hope they’re not too annoyed at my lack of blue ticks.

It’s because people get arsey and huffy if they don’t get a response straight away. They’re the type of people who start “questioning friendships” over it.

Try phoning.

For some reason I am the go between
I don't receive any response

Yeah read receipts aren't your problem here are they.

Your family member using you as his PA and not even giving you the respect of a reply and a thank you is your problem.

Because some of us have very controlling family members who use the blue ticks to bash us over the head. I might have read a message just as I'm getting in the car for a busy day out. I might have accidentally opened the message and not had time to actually read it yet (this happens a lot to me that I accidentally open things from notifications on my phone). If my family member saw those blue ticks, they'd be blowing up my phone demanding a response because "I know you've seen the message!!!" or they'd be trying to find out what I'm doing from other family members. I guess it's a shame if other people are feeling slightly inconvenienced by the lack of blue ticks but frankly how and when I choose to use my phone is nobody else's business and I don't owe anyone a read receipt. I don't need to justify what I'm doing with my day.

Not responding is a separate issue. If your friend doesn't confirm plans then your issue is with them being a flake.

Then WhatsApp isn't working correctly on your phone.

There is a three tick system.

One grey tick: the message has been sent but not received.

Two grey ticks: the message has been received, but not read.

Two bright blue ticks: the message has been read (but this only works if read receipts are on or in group chats).

It's that simple.

Either WhatsApp doesn't work or you're misinterpreting the bluey-grey ticks for the bright blue ticks.

Don't assume it's confirmed.

I would assume he's working something out and will get back to you when it is confirmed.

If it's been a while, then he's rude for not replying.

Turning off read receipts doesn't work in group chats, only in one-to-one chats.

If you're in a group chat, you can still see which members have read (two blue ticks) the message, by clicking on a message and checking the "i" info.

I agree though that having read a message is not the same as confirming any plans.

BTW OP, why are you acting as go between? Why not leave these people to sort themselves out? They both have a phone and know how to use them...

Maybe write in the message something like if you don’t let me know by this evening I’ll cancel .

Well no. The ball is in there court, either let it be or call them,

If you're making plans, they should reply and confirm - it's just rude not to.

I often turn my read receipts off though, as I use WhatsApp to communicate with clients and I don't want them being able to hassle me just because I've read a message and not responded right away.

I only have blue ticks on my phone. And it doesnt mean the recipient has read it.

Some people turn off the bit where you get a blue tick indicating they have seen message. On my iphone, if you swipe right to left on the mssge you have sent you can see if it has been read.

Double ticks just mean it's been delivered.

Blue ticks when it's been read (if they have read receipts on).

I didnt mention grey

I said that if there are 2 ticks it doesnt actually mean its been read by the recipient but people think it has been. Its a big error to belive that

I use WhatsApp for work also, so have turned off, need to keep some privacy. Your urgency is not my emergency.

I wouldn't see any plans as confirmed without a response, blue ticks or not. I keep mine on because I don't care. If someone gets offended I have been online and not read their message read and not responded I'll tell them to stop being such a dick. Most of my private friends have them turned off. It's their prerogative.

Because it's terrible for people's mental health. Noone needs to know when someone last glanced at their phone. It's WhatsApp, you know it delivered, it always delivers so it's up to the person getting it to reply.