Should Rocket.Chat Show Profile Pictures in Read Receipts ?

[mursalin101]

Currently, Rocket.Chat displays read receipts using text-based indicators like "Read" or "Seen." While functional, this lacks the visual clarity of knowing who has read a message at a glance. Many popular chat platforms, such as Messenger and WhatsApp, display profile pictures of users who have read a message, making read receipts more intuitive and engaging.

This discussion explores whether Rocket.Chat should implement a profile picture-based read receipt system to improve the user experience.

Proposed Feature

1 When a user reads a message, their profile picture appears below the message instead of just a "Seen" text.
2 Up to 3 profile pictures will be shown, with a "+X others" indicator for additional readers.
3 The feature will be designed to work across desktop, mobile, and dark/light modes.

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Benefits of This Feature

🔹 Better Visibility – Users can instantly see who read the message without opening extra menus.
🔹 Improved Group Chat UX – In large chats, it helps identify active participants.
🔹 Consistency with Modern Chat Apps – Aligns Rocket.Chat with other leading messaging platforms.

Challenges & Considerations

1 Performance Concerns: Fetching and displaying profile pictures in real-time for large groups needs to be optimized.
2 UI/UX Design: The feature should be minimalist and non-intrusive to maintain a clean chat layout.
3 Real-time Updates: Read receipts should instantly update across devices without lag.

Seeking Feedback & Suggestions

1️1 Would this feature be valuable to Rocket.Chat users?
2️2 How should we optimize performance for large team conversations?
3️3 Any alternative UI/UX design ideas to make it visually appealing yet efficient?

We’d love to hear your thoughts!