How to keep someone from seeing I read their Facebook message?

[Cameron]

This new update for the Facebook app had this weird chat feature I never seen before which it shows the person messaging you just their face and a notification icon by it, I didn't know what it was so I clicked it and it was an old old elementary school aquantience that added me couple years ago. I never really liked this kid in elementary school and from what I seen of his Facebook he is still the weird guy he was in elementary school.

I, for obvious reason, don't want to reply to a "hey how u been man?" that he randomly sent me after 9 years when I last saw him. Is there a way I can keep him from seeing that I read his message or is the damage done?

[Magillen]

When facebook says that messeges are 'Seen at xx:xx' , it means that the message was successfully sent to the person but not necessarily seen or read.

[roundthread003]

If you intend to read people's messages with their knowledge, then I suggest using a normal Internet Browser on your computer as you can mark their messages 'Mark as unread'.

Another important hint, NEVER close a chat window that is open... as it'll stay closed when you next login, so it'll become obvious that somebody has been on their account.

I'd forget about using the app on your phone as you have limited control navigating with Facebook, instead use your computer and simply mark the messages as unread after you've read them. Also consider keeping a copied log of the messages in a text file so you can read them later.

[abraXus]

you can just mark the message as "unread" after you read it

[Terence]

No, there is no way you can keep that message unread .