Did you know that in certain chat themes, WhatsApp displays read receipts as white checkmarks instead of the traditional blue checkmarks that are used in the default theme? Well this is changing, in the latest betas on Android and iOS, WhatsApp has begun using blue checkmarks, no matter the theme, in a bid to improve visual accessibility and harmonize the receipts with the colors of some message bubbles.
The previous decision to use white checkmarks for read messages in some chat themes was a bad choice because the color for delivered messages is gray, making them difficult to distinguish between.
The decision to change the checkmarks was made on the back of user feedback; people found it too difficult to identify if a message had been read by their contact or not. This update ensures the classic distinction between delivered (gray) and read (blue) messages is instantly recognizable. Right now, the feature is rolling out to some beta testers on the latest versions of WhatsApp for Android and iOS, with a wider rollout expected in the coming weeks.
The feature is not confirmed for a permanent rollout and is currently available only to a certain group of users. The rollout will depend on user feedback, which WhatsApp is closely monitoring. The company may decide to make further adjustments or even restore white read receipts for certain themes, depending on the feedback gathered.
The blue read receipts could also be a permanent change that makes the user experience better overall, increasing the intuitiveness. The current testing phase allows WhatsApp to refine the experience based on real-world use. The final outcome will depend on the results of the beta test and may not reflect the current version.
Source and image via WABetaInfo