Signals - Reinventing Read Receipts

01. Overview

Problem

Despite being central to modern communication, read receipts fail to reflect the nuance of real human availability—fueling anxiety and misinterpretation.

Traditional messaging apps offer only a binary read receipt (“Read” or nothing). This fails to reflect real-life nuances—people read messages when busy, and intentions get misinterpreted.

Solution

Signal is a UX concept that rethinks the read receipt—offering more than just a timestamp. Instead of sending a quick text, users can quietly personalize how their "read" status is perceived, using a subtle layer of emotional context.

The goal was to build a feature that allows users to quickly send Signals—short contextual replies like “Will reply soon” or “Busy until 5pm”—from the lock screen, reducing anxiety and social friction in digital conversations.

02. Problem

In today's messaging culture, being "left on read" can feel personal—even when it's not. It often stirs up a lot of different emotions when you think you were left on read, and you don't know why

"Are they ignoring me?"
"Did I do something wrong?"
"Why aren't they replying?"

This is a common social UX failure.

Why Signals Matter

Read receipts are inherently binary—either a message is marked as seen or it isn't. But real life is far more nuanced. People often read messages while they're busy, in meetings, or commuting, without the capacity to respond right away. Unfortunately, not replying immediately can unintentionally signal disinterest or even rudeness, leading to misunderstandings and social friction.

03. Research

To understand how people experience read receipts today—and how they might react to a feature like Signals—I conducted a survey with 52 participants across diverse messaging habits.

Asking users who use read receipts to reflect on their experience

Key Findings:

95% said they have intentionally avoided opening texts to avoid triggering a read receipt for those who have it on.
45% admitted to wanting to send a follow up message (e.g ?? or Hello?) to gain closure on why they were left on read, and 30% of users have done this occasionally through direct confrontation.
64% said they would use a feature that allowed them to quietly signal their availability without sending a full text.
44% said a customizable read receipt would reduce miscommunication in their daily conversations.

Behavioral Patterns Observed:

Many users disable read receipts entirely to avoid social pressure—even if it compromises communication clarity.
When busy, people often leave friends on read unintentionally, causing friction in otherwise healthy relationships.
A majority expressed desire for a "middle ground"—something between no response and sending a full reply.

Direct Quotes from Participants:

"Sometimes I want to let someone know I saw their message without feeling like I have to immediately come up with a reply."

"I wish there was a way to say 'not ignoring you' without typing a whole message or sounding dry."

"Read receipts create a lot of pressure. I either leave people hanging or stress myself out trying to respond fast."

Key Insights

Read Receipts Induce Social Pressure
A significant portion of users experience anxiety when their messages are read but not promptly responded to. This pressure stems from the expectation of immediate communication, leading to discomfort for both senders and receivers.
Edison Mail, ResearchGate
Avoidance Behaviors Are Common
Many users adopt strategies to avoid the implications of read receipts, such as reading messages through notifications or disabling the feature entirely. This indicates a desire for more control over how their message engagement is perceived.
Medium
Desire for Contextual Communication
Users express a need for features that allow them to convey their availability or intent without sending a full message. This includes options to indicate they have seen a message and will respond later, providing clarity without the pressure of immediate replies.
Potential for Customizable Read Receipts
Introducing customizable read receipts can address these concerns by allowing users to send predefined signals indicating their status. This feature can reduce misunderstandings and alleviate the pressure associated with traditional read receipts.

04. Solution

Sent from the lock screen

Sending signals over

With a quick tap from the lock screen, users can send a Signal—a short, pre-set status like "Will reply soon" or "Busy until 5pm". Once sent, this signal seamlessly appears in place of a traditional read receipt, giving the message sender valuable context without requiring a full reply. It’s a low-effort, high-empathy feature that preserves clarity while respecting availability.

From the message thread

Send Signals, Anywhere

Whether from the lock screen or directly within the messages app, Signals lets users quickly share their status—like “Can’t talk now” or “Will reply soon”. Just long-press a chat and tap Signals to send a subtle update, replacing pressure with clarity.

Avoid Cluttering

Signal Now, Respond Later

When a user sends a Signal that implies a delayed response—like “Will reply soon” or “Busy right now”—the conversation is automatically sorted into the Replying Soon filter. This creates a lightweight reminder system, helping users keep track of threads that need follow-up without overwhelming their main inbox.

Familiar Features

Familiar Feel, Smarter Signals

Inspired by Apple’s Focus mode, this screen lets users create custom Signals that automatically display on their lock screen. With full control over timing, visibility, and recipients, users can schedule when a Signal—like “Brb” or “Busy until 8 PM”—is shown and to whom. It blends seamlessly into existing iOS patterns while introducing a personalized layer of social context that adapts to real-life rhythms.

05. Takeaways

Designing for Emotional Clarity Reduces Friction

Small UX tweaks, like contextual signals, can significantly ease emotional tension in everyday interactions—bridging the gap between intention and perception.

Subtle Interactions Can Carry Big Impact

Features that take less than two seconds to use can reshape communication norms, proving that convenience and empathy aren’t mutually exclusive.

Customization Empowers Users

Giving people control over how they’re perceived—without forcing full replies—fosters trust and lowers anxiety in digital spaces.

This project challenged me to think deeply about the nuances of digital communication and the importance of designing for empathy. I'm excited to bring these lessons into future work!