Will Whatsapp's blue ticks change user habits?

Silence is often the most eloquent reply. - Ali Ibn Abi Talib

Yesterday at around 5.30pm (EST) I was in a group chat with some friends and I noticed the tick marks next to my messages started going blue.

After a bit of Googling, I found that Whatsapp have rolled out a new featurethat notifies you not only when a message has been recieved by a device, but also when a message has been viewed by a user. In group chats, it tells you when all participants of the group have viewed your message.

The first question that came to my mind when I found this out was how will this effect my user experience? I took to twitter to see what other user thought of this change and found that opinions were mixed.

A common theme I found was people thinking that it may put a strain on their relationships as you now know when someone's ignoring you:

Others felt it's a trivial change that won't have a substantial effect on the overall experience:

And there were a few that felt it won't have any effect on the way people use the app:

I found myself inclined to agree with people that felt the new feature won't have too many adverse effects, and anyone that creates issues based on some blue ticks are clearly avoiding a bigger problem. After all, almost all chat applications (including Apple's own iMessage) have encorporated read notifications for some time now.

Next, I found myself wondering why this issue is so important to people? Will it really have any impact at all? Interestingly, I found that in recent years, traditional SMS has been overtaken by third party chat applications, and we're at a point now where it's almost essential to have one or more apps installed to keep in touch. The research company Informer found almost 19 billion messages were sent on chat apps in 2012, compared to 17.6 million texts. This shows that with the amount of time people like myself spend using apps like Whatsapp, subtle changes can have big implications.

I can't help but feel like the reaction this small feature has caused is exactly what Whatsapp hoped for. If people feel like they have to reply to a message straight away to avoid "blue ticking" someone, it will cause an increase in the amount of time and number of times the app is used. However the adverse effect of this situation could be that people start avoiding the app and let their messages build up before replying to them all at once when they have time.

I'm not sure this will change my own personal habits when using Whatsapp, but only time will tell. One feature I definitely would like to see in the future is the option to turn these notifications on and off to enable me to choose whether I send a read notification or not.

At the end of the day, I can't help but feel like technology is becoming very influencial in the art of conversation. Emotion is difficult to translate in to written words (or lack of them) and with the increasing popularity of chat applications, too much is left to interpretation. If you really want to make sure someone gets your message.... call them!

9 Genius Ways To Use Sea Salt For Prettier Skin And Hair

Both salt and honey have anti-inflammatory properties to soothe skin and calm breakouts and irritation. They also help to balance oil production and retain hydration in the layers of skin where it's needed most.

Try it: Mix two teaspoons sea salt (preferably finely ground) with four teaspoons raw honey to create a spreadable paste. Apply evenly to clean, dry skin, avoiding eye area. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes. Before rinsing, soak a washcloth in very warm water, and gently wring out. Lay the warm washcloth on your face for 30 seconds. Use your fingers to gently exfoliate in a circular motion while rinsing your skin thoroughly with tepid water. Follow with your usual skin-care routine.

2. Oil-Sapping Facial Toner
Salt helps to cleanse pores deeply, balance oil production and thwart bacteria that can instigate breakouts and acne.
Try it: Mix one teaspoon sea salt with four ounces of warm water in small spray bottle until salt is dissolved. Mist on clean, dry skin, avoiding eyes. Use daily or twice daily.

3. Softening Body Scrub
Salt is a gentle natural exfoliate that sloughs off dead skin. It also has minerals to soften skin and restore hydration.
Try it: Mix a quarter-cup salt and a half-cup olive oil or softened coconut oil into a thick paste. If desired, add 10 drops of your favorite essential oil. Apply in the shower with a washcloth, loofah, or the palms of your hands, gently scrubbing your skin in a circular motion.

4. Rejuvenating Scrub
Salt is a skin-softening exfoliant that restores skin. Aloe vera hydrates, heals, and aids skin cell turnover, while lavender is a natural antiseptic that increases circulation.
Try it: Mix together a half-cup salt, a quarter-cup pure aloe vera juice or gel, a quarter-cup oil (your choice!), one tablespoon dried lavender flowers, and 10 drops essential oil of lavender. The resulting mixture should form a thick paste; if it's too dry, add a few extra drops of oil. Apply in the shower with a washcloth, loofah, or the palms of your hands, gently scrubbing your skin in a circular motion.

5. Relaxing Salt Bath

Photo by Getty Images

Salt absorbs dirt, grime, and toxins and cleanses your skin's pores deeply. Salt's mineral content helps restore the protective barrier in skin and helps it hold hydration. You may notice that your skin won't wrinkle or prune after a good, long soak in salted water, which is evidence that a salt bath helps your skin retain its moisture. The magnesium in sea salt may also help reduce water retention (i.e., bloating) in the body.
Try it: Add one-third cup salt to a tub filled with warm water, and swish to dissolve the salt. Soak for 15 to 30 minutes.

6. Anti-Dandruff Scalp Treatment
Salt helps loosen and remove existing flakes while stimulating circulation for a healthy scalp. The ingredient also absorbs excess oil and moisture to prevent fungal growth and inhibit the root of dandruff.
Try it: Part your hair a few times, and sprinkle one to two teaspoons of salt on your scalp. Using wet fingers, massage your scalp gently and thoroughly for 10 to 15 minutes (if you can recruit someone to do this for you, it is very relaxing!). Wash and condition your hair with your favorite products. The results will be immediate.

7. Teeth Whitener
Salt and baking soda are both gentle abrasives that will help remove stains and brighten teeth. Salt also contains a natural source of fluoride, which is a bonus for your teeth and gums.
Try it: Mix one teaspoon salt and two teaspoons baking powder. Dip a damp toothbrush in the mixture, and brush teeth normally. If the taste is too intense, try putting a dab of toothpaste on the brush before dipping it in the mixture.

8. Natural Mouth Wash
Salt acts as a disinfectant to kill the bacteria that can cause bad breath and gingivitis.
Try it: Mix together a half-teaspoon salt, a half-teaspoon baking soda, and a quarter-cup water until the salt dissolves. Swish the solution around in your mouth and between teeth. Spit, then rinse.

9. Nail Brightening Treatment

Photo by Getty Images

Salt softens cuticles and skin and strengthens nails. Baking soda and lemon work to reduce yellowing and stains for brighter, healthier-looking nails.
Try it: Mix one teaspoon salt, one teaspoon baking soda, one teaspoon lemon juice, and a half-cup warm water in a small bowl. Soak nails in the solution for 10 minutes, then scrub with a soft brush. Rinse hands, and moisturize.

Thigh Blasters: One Month to Toned Legs

Many women hate their upper legs so much that they don't even try to firm them. Mistake. "Many of your major thigh muscles — your hamstrings and quadriceps as well as your butt — are actually easy to tone," says Evelyn Nunlee, a New York City personal trainer for 15 years. (Inner thighs are trickier, she concedes; to target that trouble spot, add crunches and other lower-abdominal exercises, because your stomach muscles are close to those of your inner thighs.) For quickest results, do Nunlee's four-part thigh routine as well as some form of aerobic exercise three times a week. "Walking, swimming, and biking will give your upper legs definition," she says. "And in-line skating is particularly good. Women who skate have great thighs."

Wall Squat, Starting Position

1. Lean head, shoulders, lower back, and butt against a wall, with feet about 18 inches in front. Click arrow to see the next step.

Muscles it works: Quadriceps, butt and hamstrings

 Wall Squat, The Move

2. Keeping knees hip-width apart, slide down the wall until you are in a chairlike position. Your legs should not go any lower than a right angle to the floor. Hold position for 30 seconds; work up to five minutes.

Stair Climber, Starting Position

1. Stand sideways at the bottom of a staircase. In a scissorlike motion, cross your outer leg to reach the step. Click arrow to see the next step.

Muscles it works: Entire leg

Stair Climber, The Move

2. Pull your other foot off the floor and place on the second step. Walk sideways up the flight of stairs; return to bottom normally. Then scissor your way up facing the opposite direction, leading with other leg. Start with one flight for each leg; work up to five

Lunge, Starting Position

1. Stand with hands on hips, legs hip-width apart.

Muscles it works: Hamstrings, butt

Lunge, The Move

2. Take a big step forward with your left leg until your left thigh is parallel to floor. Do not allow your knee to extend in front of your toes. Let your back leg bend and heel come off the floor. Do not lean forward. Push off the left leg, and step back into starting position. Repeat with right leg. Start with eight repetitions on each leg; work up to 20.

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