Why I turned off read receipt

We all love instant feedback, and sometimes we're impatient about it. Think about that time when you proposed to someone and were anxiously waiting for their call. We all want to see those double ticks turn to blue ticks (seen) as soon as possible, especially if it's someone you care about who's also online.

In the past, text messages (SMS) were simple - you sent a message and wondered whether the person received it or read it. Now, thanks to read receipts, it's never been easier to spend hours dissecting the intricacies of your conversation partner's communication habits.

"I had no interest in trying to game someone by letting them see I'd read their message and chosen not to respond," but that's most often not the case. I simply can't handle the pressure of someone expecting an immediate response as soon as I've seen their message.

If you have a tendency to overthink things and experience anxiety over seeing someone having read your message without replying, then I would suggest turning the function off completely.

It feels incredibly liberating not to overthink when they last saw your message, or why they came online but didn't open your message, or why they're online but not replying quickly.

If you encounter someone who has their read receipts turned off, it might seem annoying at first. But if you understand the reasoning behind it, it makes perfect sense. It's a small digital boundary that can significantly improve your mental well-being.