In Instagram, read receipts refer to the feature that shows whether someone has seen the direct message (DM) you have sent them.
When you send a DM to someone, Instagram shows a small message that says “seen” underneath it once the recipient has opened and viewed the message.
This feature lets you know whether your message has been read and acknowledged by the recipient.
But can you turn off this feature? Read along to get the answer.
Can you Disable Instagram Read Receipts?
Unfortunately, you can’t turn off read receipts on Instagram.
They serve a purpose—when they’re on, the sender knows that you’ve seen their message.
This is important in case the other person is anxious or needs confirmation that their message has been seen.
But, there are ways to secretly read messages without updating the read status. For example, you can read Instagram messages through notifications without the sender knowing.
Another way is to view messages offline by disabling your internet connection before opening them.
| Feature | Description |
| Direct Messages | Allows users to send private messages to one or more users on Instagram. |
| Message Requests | Messages from users you don’t follow or who are not your followers are sent here. You can choose to approve, decline or ignore these messages. |
| Threads | Allow users to group chats with one or more users, including the ability to name the chat and add/ remove members. |
| Read Receipts | Indicates whether or not the recipient has read the message. |
| Typing Indicator | Indicates when the recipient is typing a message. |
| Unsend Messages | Allows users to unsend a message within a certain timeframe after sending it. Once the message is unsent, it will be deleted from both the sender and recipient’s chat history. |
| Video Chat | Allows users to have a video call with one or more users on Instagram. |
Why can’t you see ‘Seen’ on Instagram?
There could be a few reasons why the ‘seen‘ indicator in Instagram disappears:
Network Issues
If you have poor internet connectivity or a slow network, the ‘seen‘ indicator may not load properly or may take some time to appear.
It is advisable to check your internet connection, update or reinstall the app, or verify the person’s privacy settings to ensure that they have not disabled their activity status.
Technical Glitches
Instagram may sometimes have technical glitches that cause features like the ‘seen’ indicator to not work properly.
In such cases, the issue usually gets resolved on its own after some time.
If the sender deletes the message before you view it, the ‘seen‘ indicator will not appear.
Will Someone who has Blocked You on Instagram Read Your Direct Message?
No, if someone has blocked you on Instagram, they will not receive any messages you send them, including direct messages.
When you send a direct message to someone who has blocked you, Instagram will not deliver the message to them, and you will not be able to see if they have read it.
In addition to not receiving direct messages, someone who has blocked you on Instagram will not be able to see your posts or stories, and you will not be able to see their posts or stories.
They will also not be able to find your profile or follow you.
It’s important to respect other users’ decisions to block you on Instagram so it’s better to avoid sending them unwanted messages or attempting to contact them through other means.
How do you Disable Instagram Direct Messages?
Instagram doesn’t provide an option to disable this feature, but you can prevent unknown users from sending you direct messages by setting your account to private.
This way, if someone wants to message you, they will have to request to follow you first, and their message will appear in your “Message Request” tab for you to accept or decline.
If you wish to hide your activity status or last seen, do the following:
- Visit Instagram.
- Choose your profile icon.
- Tap on the three lines in the upper right corner.
- Go to the settings menu.
- Turn on privacy.
- Turn off your activity status by tapping on it.
Can Someone see your Instagram Posts and Stories if you Restrict them?
Yes, they can see your post and stories.
When you restrict a person on Instagram, it means that their interactions with you will be limited, and some of their actions will be hidden from you.
Here are some things that happen when you restrict someone on Instagram:
The first thing that happens when you restrict someone on Instagram is that they will not be able to see when you are online or when you have read their direct messages.
This means that you can maintain your privacy and avoid feeling pressured to respond to their messages right away.
Another thing that happens when you restrict someone on Instagram is that the comments the restricted person makes on your posts will not be visible to the public.
Instead, the comments will go to a hidden folder, and you will have to approve them before they appear.
This can be useful if you want to prevent the restricted person from leaving negative or inappropriate comments on your posts.
The restricted person will however be able to see your stories or your posts that are shared with your followers.
If the restricted person mentions you in a comment or tags you in a post, you won’t receive a notification for it.
This means that you can avoid seeing any posts or comments that the restricted person makes about you.
If the restricted person sends you a direct message, the message will go to your “Message Requests” folder, and you can choose to read, delete, or ignore it without the sender knowing.
This can be helpful if you want to avoid receiving messages from the restricted person but still want to have the option to see them if necessary.
It’s important to note that the restricted person will not be notified that you have restricted them.
They will only see the changes in their interactions with you, and they may become aware that they have been restricted over time.
Therefore, if you want to prevent any potential drama or conflict, it’s a good idea, to be honest with the person about why you have restricted them or consider blocking them instead.
Takeaways
- You can’t turn off read receipts on Instagram.
- There are ways to secretly read messages without updating the read status. For example, you can read Instagram messages through notifications without the sender knowing or you can view messages offline by disabling your internet connection before opening them.
- If someone has blocked you on Instagram, they will not receive any messages you send them, including direct messages.
- When you restrict a person on Instagram, it means that their interactions with you will be limited, and some of their actions will be hidden from you.