Translation pops up from option to turn off blue checks WhatsApp

It seems almost certain that the controversial blue ticks in WhatsApp will soon be disabled. A mention of a similar option has surfaced in the translation environment of the popular chat application.

In the Android translation of the program, the company asks volunteers to translate a sentence that indicates that the check marks can be unchecked. “If you turn off read receipts, you won’t be able to see read receipts from other people,” it says.

It now seems almost certain that the blue check marks can be turned off. This week, a beta tester, who in the past often released new functionality of the chat app, already said that the possibility is coming. However, he did not provide any evidence for his claim.

WhatsApp turned on the controversial feature on Wednesday evening, where read messages are given two blue checks. It was the first time that WhatsApp gives an indication that a chat message has actually been read.

Not everyone is equally enthusiastic about the feature, because they do not like the sender to see that a message has been read. Users can already prevent the sender from getting the blue ticks by reading the messages on the lock screen, in the notification bar, via a smartwatch or other accessory. It is also possible to pass on the notifications to the PC by means of applications such as Pushbullet.