In response to Polly Hudson's article on WhatsApp's blue tick feature, readers Tallis Morris and Kim Ware share their perspectives on disabling read receipts to reclaim personal peace and reduce digital pressure.
Blue Ticks Turned WhatsApp Into a Full-Time Job
Tallis Morris of Bristol argues that blue ticks fell out of fashion because they made WhatsApp feel like a full-time job. 'In an era when so many of us are trying to reclaim a little time and attention from our screens, switching off “read” receipts gave people a small but meaningful sense of control,' Morris writes. She explains that being permanently contactable is exhausting, and blue ticks erased the gap between reading a message and replying to it. 'The moment they turned blue, an invisible countdown began,' she notes, adding that disabling them allowed her to read messages and respond later without pressure.
Privacy and Mental Health Benefits
Kim Ware of Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, disabled blue ticks years ago for privacy reasons. 'It was too tempting to check if people had read your messages. If they had, how long did it take them to reply?' she says. Ware found that unread messages created anxiety about social acceptance, as they implied exclusion from 'the cool club.' Disabling read receipts, she explains, allowed her to send messages without knowing who read them unless they replied, which she finds 'much better for your mental health and it saves a lot of time and energy.'
A Growing Trend in Digital Wellness
The letters reflect a broader trend of individuals seeking to reduce digital overload. By turning off read receipts, users regain control over their response time and reduce the implicit expectation of instant availability. This small setting change can significantly lower stress associated with constant connectivity.
