A system to automatically increment read-watermarks based on a set of predefined rules and criteria and configured to perform operations that include: accessing a message thread that comprises a plurality of messages; detecting a display of a message from among the plurality of messages at a client device, the message corresponding with an identification number from among a plurality of sequentially assigned identification numbers associated with the plurality of messages; applying the identification number that corresponds with the message from among the plurality of messages to a data object within a database associated with the message thread, the data object indicating a most recent message read by a user of the client device based on the identification number; detecting a trigger event; and automatically incrementing the identification number associated with the data object within the database responsive to the trigger event.