The ability to confirm whether a message has been viewed by a specific contact, rather than all contacts, on an Android device represents a degree of control over communication privacy. While some messaging applications offer global read receipt settings, the granularity to enable this feature for a single individual requires specific app capabilities or workarounds. The absence of a universal operating system-level setting necessitates reliance on features implemented within individual applications.
This selective enabling of read confirmations provides a balance between maintaining personal privacy and receiving confirmation that important communications have been received and read by a specific individual. Historically, read receipts were a simple binary feature either on or off for all contacts. The desire for more nuanced control reflects an evolution in user expectations for customized communication experiences and greater agency over personal data sharing within messaging platforms.
