by

CLMN | WhatsApp, “What’s up?”

10/11/2014

‘The two new blue check marks next to the message mean the recipient has ‘read’ your message. In a group chat, the two blue ticks will appear when all participants have read the message’, claims a WhatsApp official. Leaving you ever so vulnerable to both the individual and the gang.

Who and what is responsible for the current changes? Facebook bought WhatsApp not too long ago. The general opinion all over the world was that bothered by the overwhelming popularity, Facebook bought WhatsApp to kill it. Perhaps, the secret of WhatsApp's success is now known to Facebook. While Facebook secretly passed on people's information to the US National Security Agency, WhatsApp didn't breach people's privacy and personal space enough. Enter those bloody, pardon my French, 'blue ticks'.

Imagine getting a message while sleeping. You get up; catch a glimpse of the message with one partially open eye. And fall asleep again. WhatsApp will conclude you read it and didn't reply, so possibly even ignored the message! The definition of 'read' needs some alteration now. 'Read' now stands for 'opening a window with the message', and not actually reading it.

Some critical people already considered the two green ticks as 'read' instead of 'delivered'. What conclusions will they jump to when they see unanswered blue ticks?

I'm not getting the blue tick update, anyway. Because my two blue ticks would at times end up meaning 'read in shower, couldn't reply'. While I keep on replying at my own time, pace, will, and wish.

WhatsApp is trying to be overly efficient at keeping people informed. Informing people beyond their needs, telling whether their message was sent, delivered, and read or not. WhatsApp is not just a messenger anymore. It's a cause. Cause: 'Eradicate women-like curiosity to know details', maybe.

'Last seen' is followed by 'read' marks. What will be next? Possibly  a first, second and third reminder to reply, complemented by several more marks and colors?

P.S.: WhatsApp 2016 notifications:

1. 'Emma read your message and texted Bo that she is over you.'

2. 'Gefeliciteerd, your crush just replied to your message with multiple smileys.'

Share this article