Facebook messages: suppress read status

The read status cannot be easily suppressed on Facebook. Facebook itself has no option for this. In this practical tip, we explain how you can switch off the display on your PC and Android smartphone.

Facebook Unseen: Hide read status in Facebook

Note: The following guide was designed for Google Chrome, but works similarly in Firefox. Use the Unseen for Firefox add-on there.

1. Open the Facebook Unseen add-on in the Chrome Web Store and click the "Add" button at the top right.
2. Confirm the process with "Add" so that the installed add-on appears in the top right of the browser.
3. Click on the menu button at the top right and select the "Extensions" in the settings.
4. Search for "Facebook Unseen" and click on "Options".
5. Activate the option "Block read function of chat" as well as all other desired options.

1. Open Google Chrome and download an add-on like Adblock or Adblock Plus.
2. At the top right you will find the blue "Free" button, which is used to install the plug-in. If you confirm the query with a click on "Add", the extension is integrated into the browser after a few seconds.
3. At the top right you will find a red symbol. Click on it and select the "Settings" if necessary.
4. Here you will find the "Add your own filter" option, where you can use the URLs "//www.facebook.com/ajax/mercury/change_read_status.php" and "//www.facebook.com/ajax/mercury/change_read_status". php "can add. The only difference between the two URLs is the "http" and "https". Depending on the user, one of the two is required.
5. The URLs are used by Facebook to determine the time for the read status. Because the URLs are blocked, Facebook can no longer transmit the time.
6. A positive side effect: With "Adblock Plus" you can not only override the read function. All annoying advertisements on the website also disappear.
7. Alternatively, the browser extension "Facebook Chat Privacy" can be remedied simply by installing it.

Firefox: Suppress read status on Facebook

1. Start Firefox and download a plug-in such as BlockSite or Adblock Plus.
2. Click the "Add to Firefox" button, confirm the installation and then restart the browser.
3. Click on the "Firefox" button at the top left and there on the "Add-ons".
4. In addition to the add-on you just installed, you will now find the "Settings" button.
5. Here you will find an area where you can add websites yourself that should be blocked. Add the URLs "//www.facebook.com/ajax/mercury/change_read_status.php" and "//www.facebook.com/ajax/mercury/change_read_status.php" here.
6. The read status is now suppressed on Facebook.

Android: Hide Facebook's read status

Unfortunately, this function is only available for Android. There is no solution for iOS:

1. With the free Android app "Privy Chat for Facebook" you can read Faebook messages without the sender noticing.
2. The app works similarly to the Facebook Messenger app. So you can not only read messages, but also reply to them.
3. However, "Privy Chat" cannot completely replace the Facebook apps because many functions are not available: Among other things, new messages cannot be written. You can only reply to existing conversations.

In the next practical tip, we will give you helpful tips for more data protection on Facebook.