Whatsapp released a beta version of their app today, which allows users to disable the controversial blue checkmark read indicators.The test version isn't available in the Play Store and App Store but it can be downloaded directly from the Whatsapp website. The blue checkmarks have been controversial directly after Whatsapp added them to their app and show whether the recipient of the Whatsapp message has read the received message.
Version 2.11.444 of Whatsapp allows users to disable the blue checkmarks but only works on Android. It's not possible to install the beta on iPhones but it's likely that Whatsapp will release a final version of the beta to the App Store and Google's Play Store.
The option to disable the read indicator has been added to Account Privacy in the settings of the app and is called Read Receipts. When an user disables the option the blue check marks on messages sent are no longer shown. Users who sent a message to the user with the option disabled also can't see whether the user has view their message which means it's same situation as before the check marks were introduced.
The blue check marks were added to the app last week and caused a lot of uproar with Whatsapp users. Many users complained it was a privacy invasion as they don't want others to know when they've read their message.
