In response to Polly Hudson's article on WhatsApp's blue tick feature, readers Tallis Morris and Kim Ware share why disabling read receipts can improve well-being.
Blue Ticks as a Burden
Tallis Morris from Bristol argues that blue ticks turned WhatsApp into a full-time job. Reading a message and replying are different, she notes, but blue ticks erased that gap, creating an invisible countdown once they turned blue. Switching them off allowed her to read messages and reply later, reclaiming control over her time and attention.
Privacy and Mental Health
Kim Ware from Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, disabled blue ticks years ago for privacy reasons. Without them, she avoids the temptation to check if others read her messages or how long they take to reply. Not seeing read receipts also prevents the anxiety of being left on read, which can feel like exclusion. Disabling the feature, she says, is better for mental health and saves time and energy.
