diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 9073e77..66356bd 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+## 0.3.4 - October 25 2023
+
+- Add interface methods for getting amount of unread messages
+
 ## 0.3.3 - October 10 2023
 
 - Add icon color property for icon buttons
diff --git a/packages/flutter_community_chat/pubspec.yaml b/packages/flutter_community_chat/pubspec.yaml
index 24258b3..51b24c7 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_community_chat/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/packages/flutter_community_chat/pubspec.yaml
@@ -1,11 +1,15 @@
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022 Iconica
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
 name: flutter_community_chat
 description: A new Flutter package project.
-version: 0.3.3
+version: 0.3.4
 
 publish_to: none
 
 environment:
-  sdk: '>=2.18.2 <3.0.0'
+  sdk: '>=3.1.0 <4.0.0'
   flutter: ">=1.17.0"
 
 dependencies:
@@ -15,12 +19,12 @@ dependencies:
     git: 
        url: https://github.com/Iconica-Development/flutter_community_chat
        path: packages/flutter_community_chat_view
-       ref: 0.3.3
+       ref: 0.3.4
   flutter_community_chat_interface:
     git: 
        url: https://github.com/Iconica-Development/flutter_community_chat
        path: packages/flutter_community_chat_interface
-       ref: 0.3.3
+       ref: 0.3.4
 
 dev_dependencies:
   flutter_lints: ^2.0.0
diff --git a/packages/flutter_community_chat_firebase/lib/service/firebase_chat_service.dart b/packages/flutter_community_chat_firebase/lib/service/firebase_chat_service.dart
index 5d082cc..adc3554 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_community_chat_firebase/lib/service/firebase_chat_service.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_community_chat_firebase/lib/service/firebase_chat_service.dart
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import 'dart:async';
 import 'package:cloud_firestore/cloud_firestore.dart';
 import 'package:firebase_core/firebase_core.dart';
 import 'package:firebase_storage/firebase_storage.dart';
-import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_community_chat_firebase/config/firebase_chat_options.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_community_chat_firebase/dto/firebase_chat_document.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_community_chat_interface/flutter_community_chat_interface.dart';
@@ -197,7 +196,6 @@ class FirebaseChatService implements ChatService {
     StreamSubscription? chatsSubscription;
     controller = StreamController(
       onListen: () async {
-        debugPrint('Start listening to chats');
         var currentUser = await _userService.getCurrentUser();
         var userSnapshot = await _db
             .collection(_options.usersCollectionName)
@@ -223,7 +221,6 @@ class FirebaseChatService implements ChatService {
       },
       onCancel: () {
         chatsSubscription?.cancel();
-        debugPrint('Stop listening to chats');
       },
     );
     return controller.stream;
@@ -416,4 +413,51 @@ class FirebaseChatService implements ChatService {
 
     return chat;
   }
+
+  @override
+  Stream<int> getUnreadChatsCountStream() {
+    // open a stream to the user's chats collection and listen to changes in this collection we will also add the amount of read chats
+    StreamSubscription? unreadChatSubscription;
+    late StreamController<int> controller;
+    controller = StreamController(
+      onListen: () async {
+        var currentUser = await _userService.getCurrentUser();
+        var userSnapshot = _db
+            .collection(_options.usersCollectionName)
+            .doc(currentUser?.id)
+            .collection('chats')
+            .snapshots();
+
+        unreadChatSubscription = userSnapshot.listen((event) {
+          // every chat has a field called amount_unread_messages, combine all of these fields to get the total amount of unread messages
+          var unreadChats = event.docs
+              .map((chat) => chat.data()['amount_unread_messages'] ?? 0)
+              .toList();
+          var totalUnreadChats = unreadChats.fold<int>(
+              0, (previousValue, element) => previousValue + (element as int));
+          controller.add(totalUnreadChats);
+        });
+      },
+      onCancel: () {
+        unreadChatSubscription?.cancel();
+      },
+    );
+    return controller.stream;
+  }
+
+  @override
+  Future<void> readChat(ChatModel chat) async {
+    // set the amount of read chats to the amount of messages in the chat
+    var currentUser = await _userService.getCurrentUser();
+    if (currentUser?.id == null || chat.id == null) {
+      return;
+    }
+    // set the amount of unread messages to 0
+    await _db
+        .collection(_options.usersCollectionName)
+        .doc(currentUser!.id!)
+        .collection('chats')
+        .doc(chat.id)
+        .update({'amount_unread_messages': 0});
+  }
 }
diff --git a/packages/flutter_community_chat_firebase/lib/service/firebase_message_service.dart b/packages/flutter_community_chat_firebase/lib/service/firebase_message_service.dart
index d34b27b..70df4f6 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_community_chat_firebase/lib/service/firebase_message_service.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_community_chat_firebase/lib/service/firebase_message_service.dart
@@ -68,6 +68,28 @@ class FirebaseMessageService implements MessageService {
     if (chat.id != null && _controller.hasListener && (_subscription == null)) {
       _subscription = _startListeningForMessages(chat);
     }
+
+    // update the chat counter for the other users
+    // get all users from the chat
+    // there is a field in the chat document called users that has a list of user ids
+    var fetchedChat = await chatReference.get();
+    var chatUsers = fetchedChat.data()?['users'] as List<dynamic>;
+    // for all users except the message sender update the unread counter
+    for (var userId in chatUsers) {
+      if (userId != currentUser.id) {
+        var userReference = _db
+            .collection(
+              _options.usersCollectionName,
+            )
+            .doc(userId)
+            .collection('chats')
+            .doc(chat.id);
+
+        await userReference.update({
+          'amount_unread_messages': FieldValue.increment(1),
+        });
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   @override
diff --git a/packages/flutter_community_chat_firebase/pubspec.yaml b/packages/flutter_community_chat_firebase/pubspec.yaml
index 2099781..9983944 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_community_chat_firebase/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/packages/flutter_community_chat_firebase/pubspec.yaml
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022 Iconica
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
 name: flutter_community_chat_firebase
 description: A new Flutter package project.
-version: 0.3.3
+version: 0.3.4
 publish_to: none
 
 environment:
-  sdk: '>=2.18.2 <3.0.0'
+  sdk: '>=3.1.0 <4.0.0'
   flutter: ">=1.17.0"
 
 dependencies:
@@ -19,7 +23,7 @@ dependencies:
     git: 
        url: https://github.com/Iconica-Development/flutter_community_chat
        path: packages/flutter_community_chat_interface
-       ref: 0.3.3
+       ref: 0.3.4
 
 dev_dependencies:
   flutter_lints: ^2.0.0
diff --git a/packages/flutter_community_chat_interface/lib/src/service/chat_service.dart b/packages/flutter_community_chat_interface/lib/src/service/chat_service.dart
index f42d10c..d6c649d 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_community_chat_interface/lib/src/service/chat_service.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_community_chat_interface/lib/src/service/chat_service.dart
@@ -6,5 +6,7 @@ abstract class ChatService {
   Future<ChatModel> getOrCreateChatByUser(ChatUserModel user);
   Future<ChatModel> getChatById(String id);
   Future<void> deleteChat(ChatModel chat);
+  Future<void> readChat(ChatModel chat);
   Future<ChatModel> storeChatIfNot(ChatModel chat);
+  Stream<int> getUnreadChatsCountStream();
 }
diff --git a/packages/flutter_community_chat_interface/pubspec.yaml b/packages/flutter_community_chat_interface/pubspec.yaml
index cd8ac09..4d0faf1 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_community_chat_interface/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/packages/flutter_community_chat_interface/pubspec.yaml
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022 Iconica
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
 name: flutter_community_chat_interface
 description: A new Flutter package project.
-version: 0.3.3
+version: 0.3.4
 publish_to: none
 
 environment:
-  sdk: '>=2.18.2 <3.0.0'
+  sdk: ">=3.1.0 <4.0.0"
   flutter: ">=1.17.0"
 
 dependencies:
@@ -12,7 +16,7 @@ dependencies:
     sdk: flutter
   flutter_data_interface:
     git:
-      url: https://github.com/Iconica-Development/flutter_data_interface
+      url: https://github.com/Iconica-Development/flutter_data_interface.git
       ref: 1.0.0
 
 dev_dependencies:
diff --git a/packages/flutter_community_chat_view/example/lib/main.dart b/packages/flutter_community_chat_view/example/lib/main.dart
index 18eb8f3..782a0dc 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_community_chat_view/example/lib/main.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_community_chat_view/example/lib/main.dart
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ class MyStatefulWidget extends StatefulWidget {
 
 class _MyStatefulWidgetState extends State<MyStatefulWidget> {
   static final pietUser = ChatUserModel(
+    id: 'piet',
     firstName: 'Piet',
     lastName: 'Jansen',
     imageUrl: 'https://xsgames.co/randomusers/avatar.php?g=female',
@@ -37,11 +38,7 @@ class _MyStatefulWidgetState extends State<MyStatefulWidget> {
       timestamp: DateTime.now(),
     ),
     ChatTextMessageModel(
-      sender: ChatUserModel(
-        firstName: 'Jan',
-        lastName: 'Jansen',
-        imageUrl: 'https://xsgames.co/randomusers/avatar.php?g=male',
-      ),
+      sender: janUser,
       text: 'Met mij gaat het goed, dankje!',
       timestamp: DateTime.now().subtract(const Duration(days: 2)),
     )
@@ -109,6 +106,7 @@ class _MyStatefulWidgetState extends State<MyStatefulWidget> {
       onPressChat: (chat) => Navigator.of(context).push(
         MaterialPageRoute(
           builder: (context) => ChatDetailScreen(
+            userId: 'piet',
             chat: chat,
             chatMessages: messageStream,
             options: options,
@@ -120,6 +118,7 @@ class _MyStatefulWidgetState extends State<MyStatefulWidget> {
                 () => debugPrint('onMessageSubmit'),
               );
             },
+            onReadChat: (chat) async {},
             onUploadImage: (image) async {},
           ),
         ),
diff --git a/packages/flutter_community_chat_view/example/pubspec.lock b/packages/flutter_community_chat_view/example/pubspec.lock
deleted file mode 100644
index 68ae23f..0000000
--- a/packages/flutter_community_chat_view/example/pubspec.lock
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,716 +0,0 @@
-# Generated by pub
-# See https://dart.dev/tools/pub/glossary#lockfile
-packages:
-  _fe_analyzer_shared:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: _fe_analyzer_shared
-      sha256: ae92f5d747aee634b87f89d9946000c2de774be1d6ac3e58268224348cd0101a
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "61.0.0"
-  analyzer:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: analyzer
-      sha256: ea3d8652bda62982addfd92fdc2d0214e5f82e43325104990d4f4c4a2a313562
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "5.13.0"
-  args:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: args
-      sha256: eef6c46b622e0494a36c5a12d10d77fb4e855501a91c1b9ef9339326e58f0596
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.4.2"
-  async:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: async
-      sha256: "947bfcf187f74dbc5e146c9eb9c0f10c9f8b30743e341481c1e2ed3ecc18c20c"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.11.0"
-  boolean_selector:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: boolean_selector
-      sha256: "6cfb5af12253eaf2b368f07bacc5a80d1301a071c73360d746b7f2e32d762c66"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.1.1"
-  build:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: build
-      sha256: "80184af8b6cb3e5c1c4ec6d8544d27711700bc3e6d2efad04238c7b5290889f0"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.4.1"
-  built_collection:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: built_collection
-      sha256: "376e3dd27b51ea877c28d525560790aee2e6fbb5f20e2f85d5081027d94e2100"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "5.1.1"
-  built_value:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: built_value
-      sha256: a8de5955205b4d1dbbbc267daddf2178bd737e4bab8987c04a500478c9651e74
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "8.6.3"
-  cached_network_image:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: cached_network_image
-      sha256: f98972704692ba679db144261172a8e20feb145636c617af0eb4022132a6797f
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "3.3.0"
-  cached_network_image_platform_interface:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: cached_network_image_platform_interface
-      sha256: "56aa42a7a01e3c9db8456d9f3f999931f1e05535b5a424271e9a38cabf066613"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "3.0.0"
-  cached_network_image_web:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: cached_network_image_web
-      sha256: "759b9a9f8f6ccbb66c185df805fac107f05730b1dab9c64626d1008cca532257"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "1.1.0"
-  characters:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: characters
-      sha256: "04a925763edad70e8443c99234dc3328f442e811f1d8fd1a72f1c8ad0f69a605"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "1.3.0"
-  clock:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: clock
-      sha256: cb6d7f03e1de671e34607e909a7213e31d7752be4fb66a86d29fe1eb14bfb5cf
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "1.1.1"
-  code_builder:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: code_builder
-      sha256: "1be9be30396d7e4c0db42c35ea6ccd7cc6a1e19916b5dc64d6ac216b5544d677"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "4.7.0"
-  collection:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: collection
-      sha256: f092b211a4319e98e5ff58223576de6c2803db36221657b46c82574721240687
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "1.17.2"
-  convert:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: convert
-      sha256: "0f08b14755d163f6e2134cb58222dd25ea2a2ee8a195e53983d57c075324d592"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "3.1.1"
-  cross_file:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: cross_file
-      sha256: fd832b5384d0d6da4f6df60b854d33accaaeb63aa9e10e736a87381f08dee2cb
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "0.3.3+5"
-  crypto:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: crypto
-      sha256: ff625774173754681d66daaf4a448684fb04b78f902da9cb3d308c19cc5e8bab
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "3.0.3"
-  dart_style:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: dart_style
-      sha256: "1efa911ca7086affd35f463ca2fc1799584fb6aa89883cf0af8e3664d6a02d55"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.3.2"
-  fake_async:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: fake_async
-      sha256: "511392330127add0b769b75a987850d136345d9227c6b94c96a04cf4a391bf78"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "1.3.1"
-  ffi:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: ffi
-      sha256: "7bf0adc28a23d395f19f3f1eb21dd7cfd1dd9f8e1c50051c069122e6853bc878"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.1.0"
-  file:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: file
-      sha256: "5fc22d7c25582e38ad9a8515372cd9a93834027aacf1801cf01164dac0ffa08c"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "7.0.0"
-  file_selector_linux:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: file_selector_linux
-      sha256: "045d372bf19b02aeb69cacf8b4009555fb5f6f0b7ad8016e5f46dd1387ddd492"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "0.9.2+1"
-  file_selector_macos:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: file_selector_macos
-      sha256: b15c3da8bd4908b9918111fa486903f5808e388b8d1c559949f584725a6594d6
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "0.9.3+3"
-  file_selector_platform_interface:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: file_selector_platform_interface
-      sha256: "0aa47a725c346825a2bd396343ce63ac00bda6eff2fbc43eabe99737dede8262"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.6.1"
-  file_selector_windows:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: file_selector_windows
-      sha256: d3547240c20cabf205c7c7f01a50ecdbc413755814d6677f3cb366f04abcead0
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "0.9.3+1"
-  fixnum:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: fixnum
-      sha256: "25517a4deb0c03aa0f32fd12db525856438902d9c16536311e76cdc57b31d7d1"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "1.1.0"
-  flutter:
-    dependency: "direct main"
-    description: flutter
-    source: sdk
-    version: "0.0.0"
-  flutter_cache_manager:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: flutter_cache_manager
-      sha256: "8207f27539deb83732fdda03e259349046a39a4c767269285f449ade355d54ba"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "3.3.1"
-  flutter_community_chat_interface:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      path: "packages/flutter_community_chat_interface"
-      ref: "0.3.3"
-      resolved-ref: "2e79910e7767a89b1ae9232aec2c5f3bc99f8027"
-      url: "https://github.com/Iconica-Development/flutter_community_chat"
-    source: git
-    version: "0.3.3"
-  flutter_community_chat_view:
-    dependency: "direct main"
-    description:
-      path: ".."
-      relative: true
-    source: path
-    version: "0.3.3"
-  flutter_data_interface:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      path: "."
-      ref: "1.0.0"
-      resolved-ref: "500ed1d08095b33387ae3aa4ed1a2ad4d2fb2ac3"
-      url: "https://github.com/Iconica-Development/flutter_data_interface.git"
-    source: git
-    version: "1.0.0"
-  flutter_image_picker:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      path: "."
-      ref: "1.0.4"
-      resolved-ref: "829574e5f650cabcbd157f22b95001c9052fce0d"
-      url: "https://github.com/Iconica-Development/flutter_image_picker"
-    source: git
-    version: "1.0.4"
-  flutter_lints:
-    dependency: "direct dev"
-    description:
-      name: flutter_lints
-      sha256: a25a15ebbdfc33ab1cd26c63a6ee519df92338a9c10f122adda92938253bef04
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.0.3"
-  flutter_plugin_android_lifecycle:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: flutter_plugin_android_lifecycle
-      sha256: f185ac890306b5779ecbd611f52502d8d4d63d27703ef73161ca0407e815f02c
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.0.16"
-  flutter_test:
-    dependency: "direct dev"
-    description: flutter
-    source: sdk
-    version: "0.0.0"
-  flutter_web_plugins:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description: flutter
-    source: sdk
-    version: "0.0.0"
-  glob:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: glob
-      sha256: "0e7014b3b7d4dac1ca4d6114f82bf1782ee86745b9b42a92c9289c23d8a0ab63"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.1.2"
-  http:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: http
-      sha256: "759d1a329847dd0f39226c688d3e06a6b8679668e350e2891a6474f8b4bb8525"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "1.1.0"
-  http_parser:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: http_parser
-      sha256: "2aa08ce0341cc9b354a498388e30986515406668dbcc4f7c950c3e715496693b"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "4.0.2"
-  image_picker:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: image_picker
-      sha256: b6951e25b795d053a6ba03af5f710069c99349de9341af95155d52665cb4607c
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "0.8.9"
-  image_picker_android:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: image_picker_android
-      sha256: "0c7b83bbe2980c8a8e36e974f055e11e51675784e13a4762889feed0f3937ff2"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "0.8.8+1"
-  image_picker_for_web:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: image_picker_for_web
-      sha256: "869fe8a64771b7afbc99fc433a5f7be2fea4d1cb3d7c11a48b6b579eb9c797f0"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.2.0"
-  image_picker_ios:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: image_picker_ios
-      sha256: c5538cacefacac733c724be7484377923b476216ad1ead35a0d2eadcdc0fc497
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "0.8.8+2"
-  image_picker_linux:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: image_picker_linux
-      sha256: "4ed1d9bb36f7cd60aa6e6cd479779cc56a4cb4e4de8f49d487b1aaad831300fa"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "0.2.1+1"
-  image_picker_macos:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: image_picker_macos
-      sha256: "3f5ad1e8112a9a6111c46d0b57a7be2286a9a07fc6e1976fdf5be2bd31d4ff62"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "0.2.1+1"
-  image_picker_platform_interface:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: image_picker_platform_interface
-      sha256: ed9b00e63977c93b0d2d2b343685bed9c324534ba5abafbb3dfbd6a780b1b514
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.9.1"
-  image_picker_windows:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: image_picker_windows
-      sha256: "6ad07afc4eb1bc25f3a01084d28520496c4a3bb0cb13685435838167c9dcedeb"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "0.2.1+1"
-  intl:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: intl
-      sha256: "3bc132a9dbce73a7e4a21a17d06e1878839ffbf975568bc875c60537824b0c4d"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "0.18.1"
-  js:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: js
-      sha256: f2c445dce49627136094980615a031419f7f3eb393237e4ecd97ac15dea343f3
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "0.6.7"
-  lints:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: lints
-      sha256: "0a217c6c989d21039f1498c3ed9f3ed71b354e69873f13a8dfc3c9fe76f1b452"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.1.1"
-  logging:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: logging
-      sha256: "623a88c9594aa774443aa3eb2d41807a48486b5613e67599fb4c41c0ad47c340"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "1.2.0"
-  matcher:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: matcher
-      sha256: "1803e76e6653768d64ed8ff2e1e67bea3ad4b923eb5c56a295c3e634bad5960e"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "0.12.16"
-  material_color_utilities:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: material_color_utilities
-      sha256: "9528f2f296073ff54cb9fee677df673ace1218163c3bc7628093e7eed5203d41"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "0.5.0"
-  meta:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: meta
-      sha256: "3c74dbf8763d36539f114c799d8a2d87343b5067e9d796ca22b5eb8437090ee3"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "1.9.1"
-  mime:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: mime
-      sha256: e4ff8e8564c03f255408decd16e7899da1733852a9110a58fe6d1b817684a63e
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "1.0.4"
-  mockito:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: mockito
-      sha256: "7d5b53bcd556c1bc7ffbe4e4d5a19c3e112b7e925e9e172dd7c6ad0630812616"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "5.4.2"
-  octo_image:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: octo_image
-      sha256: "45b40f99622f11901238e18d48f5f12ea36426d8eced9f4cbf58479c7aa2430d"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.0.0"
-  package_config:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: package_config
-      sha256: "1c5b77ccc91e4823a5af61ee74e6b972db1ef98c2ff5a18d3161c982a55448bd"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.1.0"
-  path:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: path
-      sha256: "8829d8a55c13fc0e37127c29fedf290c102f4e40ae94ada574091fe0ff96c917"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "1.8.3"
-  path_provider:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: path_provider
-      sha256: a1aa8aaa2542a6bc57e381f132af822420216c80d4781f7aa085ca3229208aaa
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.1.1"
-  path_provider_android:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: path_provider_android
-      sha256: "6b8b19bd80da4f11ce91b2d1fb931f3006911477cec227cce23d3253d80df3f1"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.2.0"
-  path_provider_foundation:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: path_provider_foundation
-      sha256: "19314d595120f82aca0ba62787d58dde2cc6b5df7d2f0daf72489e38d1b57f2d"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.3.1"
-  path_provider_linux:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: path_provider_linux
-      sha256: f7a1fe3a634fe7734c8d3f2766ad746ae2a2884abe22e241a8b301bf5cac3279
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.2.1"
-  path_provider_platform_interface:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: path_provider_platform_interface
-      sha256: "94b1e0dd80970c1ce43d5d4e050a9918fce4f4a775e6142424c30a29a363265c"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.1.1"
-  path_provider_windows:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: path_provider_windows
-      sha256: "8bc9f22eee8690981c22aa7fc602f5c85b497a6fb2ceb35ee5a5e5ed85ad8170"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.2.1"
-  platform:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: platform
-      sha256: "0a279f0707af40c890e80b1e9df8bb761694c074ba7e1d4ab1bc4b728e200b59"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "3.1.3"
-  plugin_platform_interface:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: plugin_platform_interface
-      sha256: da3fdfeccc4d4ff2da8f8c556704c08f912542c5fb3cf2233ed75372384a034d
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.1.6"
-  pub_semver:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: pub_semver
-      sha256: "40d3ab1bbd474c4c2328c91e3a7df8c6dd629b79ece4c4bd04bee496a224fb0c"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.1.4"
-  rxdart:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: rxdart
-      sha256: "0c7c0cedd93788d996e33041ffecda924cc54389199cde4e6a34b440f50044cb"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "0.27.7"
-  sky_engine:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description: flutter
-    source: sdk
-    version: "0.0.99"
-  source_gen:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: source_gen
-      sha256: fc0da689e5302edb6177fdd964efcb7f58912f43c28c2047a808f5bfff643d16
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "1.4.0"
-  source_span:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: source_span
-      sha256: "53e943d4206a5e30df338fd4c6e7a077e02254531b138a15aec3bd143c1a8b3c"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "1.10.0"
-  sprintf:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: sprintf
-      sha256: "1fc9ffe69d4df602376b52949af107d8f5703b77cda567c4d7d86a0693120f23"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "7.0.0"
-  sqflite:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: sqflite
-      sha256: "591f1602816e9c31377d5f008c2d9ef7b8aca8941c3f89cc5fd9d84da0c38a9a"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.3.0"
-  sqflite_common:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: sqflite_common
-      sha256: "1b92f368f44b0dee2425bb861cfa17b6f6cf3961f762ff6f941d20b33355660a"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.5.0"
-  stack_trace:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: stack_trace
-      sha256: c3c7d8edb15bee7f0f74debd4b9c5f3c2ea86766fe4178eb2a18eb30a0bdaed5
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "1.11.0"
-  stream_channel:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: stream_channel
-      sha256: "83615bee9045c1d322bbbd1ba209b7a749c2cbcdcb3fdd1df8eb488b3279c1c8"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.1.1"
-  string_scanner:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: string_scanner
-      sha256: "556692adab6cfa87322a115640c11f13cb77b3f076ddcc5d6ae3c20242bedcde"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "1.2.0"
-  synchronized:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: synchronized
-      sha256: "5fcbd27688af6082f5abd611af56ee575342c30e87541d0245f7ff99faa02c60"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "3.1.0"
-  term_glyph:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: term_glyph
-      sha256: a29248a84fbb7c79282b40b8c72a1209db169a2e0542bce341da992fe1bc7e84
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "1.2.1"
-  test_api:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: test_api
-      sha256: "75760ffd7786fffdfb9597c35c5b27eaeec82be8edfb6d71d32651128ed7aab8"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "0.6.0"
-  typed_data:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: typed_data
-      sha256: facc8d6582f16042dd49f2463ff1bd6e2c9ef9f3d5da3d9b087e244a7b564b3c
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "1.3.2"
-  uuid:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: uuid
-      sha256: b715b8d3858b6fa9f68f87d20d98830283628014750c2b09b6f516c1da4af2a7
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "4.1.0"
-  vector_math:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: vector_math
-      sha256: "80b3257d1492ce4d091729e3a67a60407d227c27241d6927be0130c98e741803"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "2.1.4"
-  watcher:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: watcher
-      sha256: "3d2ad6751b3c16cf07c7fca317a1413b3f26530319181b37e3b9039b84fc01d8"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "1.1.0"
-  web:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: web
-      sha256: dc8ccd225a2005c1be616fe02951e2e342092edf968cf0844220383757ef8f10
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "0.1.4-beta"
-  win32:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: win32
-      sha256: "350a11abd2d1d97e0cc7a28a81b781c08002aa2864d9e3f192ca0ffa18b06ed3"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "5.0.9"
-  xdg_directories:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: xdg_directories
-      sha256: "589ada45ba9e39405c198fe34eb0f607cddb2108527e658136120892beac46d2"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "1.0.3"
-  yaml:
-    dependency: transitive
-    description:
-      name: yaml
-      sha256: "75769501ea3489fca56601ff33454fe45507ea3bfb014161abc3b43ae25989d5"
-      url: "https://pub.dev"
-    source: hosted
-    version: "3.1.2"
-sdks:
-  dart: ">=3.1.0-185.0.dev <4.0.0"
-  flutter: ">=3.10.0"
diff --git a/packages/flutter_community_chat_view/example/pubspec.yaml b/packages/flutter_community_chat_view/example/pubspec.yaml
index 843637d..8532342 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_community_chat_view/example/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/packages/flutter_community_chat_view/example/pubspec.yaml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ publish_to: 'none' # Remove this line if you wish to publish to pub.dev
 version: 1.0.0+1
 
 environment:
-  sdk: '>=2.18.2 <3.0.0'
+  sdk: '>=3.1.0 <4.0.0'
 dependencies:
   flutter:
     sdk: flutter
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ dependencies:
     git: 
        url: https://github.com/Iconica-Development/flutter_community_chat
        path: packages/flutter_community_chat_view
-       ref: 0.3.3
+       ref: 0.3.4
 
 dev_dependencies:
   flutter_test:
diff --git a/packages/flutter_community_chat_view/lib/src/screens/chat_detail_screen.dart b/packages/flutter_community_chat_view/lib/src/screens/chat_detail_screen.dart
index 0b8b20b..0db1157 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_community_chat_view/lib/src/screens/chat_detail_screen.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_community_chat_view/lib/src/screens/chat_detail_screen.dart
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 //
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 
+import 'dart:async';
 import 'dart:typed_data';
 
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
@@ -10,11 +11,13 @@ import 'package:flutter_community_chat_view/src/components/chat_bottom.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_community_chat_view/src/components/chat_detail_row.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_community_chat_view/src/components/image_loading_snackbar.dart';
 
-class ChatDetailScreen extends StatelessWidget {
+class ChatDetailScreen extends StatefulWidget {
   const ChatDetailScreen({
+    required this.userId,
     required this.options,
     required this.onMessageSubmit,
     required this.onUploadImage,
+    required this.onReadChat,
     this.translations = const ChatTranslations(),
     this.chat,
     this.chatMessages,
@@ -24,34 +27,76 @@ class ChatDetailScreen extends StatelessWidget {
   });
 
   final ChatModel? chat;
+
+  /// The id of the current user that is viewing the chat.
+  final String userId;
+
   final ChatOptions options;
   final ChatTranslations translations;
   final Stream<List<ChatMessageModel>>? chatMessages;
   final Future<void> Function(Uint8List image) onUploadImage;
   final Future<void> Function(String text) onMessageSubmit;
+  // called at the start of the screen to set the chat to read
+  // or when a new message is received
+  final Future<void> Function(ChatModel chat) onReadChat;
   final VoidCallback? onPressChatTitle;
 
   /// The color of the icon buttons in the chat bottom.
   final Color? iconColor;
 
+  @override
+  State<ChatDetailScreen> createState() => _ChatDetailScreenState();
+}
+
+class _ChatDetailScreenState extends State<ChatDetailScreen> {
+  // stream listener that needs to be disposed later
+  late StreamSubscription<List<ChatMessageModel>>? _chatMessagesSubscription;
+  late Stream<List<ChatMessageModel>>? _chatMessages;
+
+  @override
+  void initState() {
+    super.initState();
+    // create a broadcast stream from the chat messages
+    _chatMessages = widget.chatMessages?.asBroadcastStream();
+    _chatMessagesSubscription = _chatMessages?.listen((event) {
+      // check if the last message is from the current user
+      // if so, set the chat to read
+      if (event.isNotEmpty &&
+          event.last.sender.id != widget.userId &&
+          widget.chat != null) {
+        widget.onReadChat(widget.chat!);
+      }
+    });
+    // set the chat to read when opening the screen
+    if (widget.chat != null) {
+      widget.onReadChat(widget.chat!);
+    }
+  }
+
+  @override
+  void dispose() {
+    _chatMessagesSubscription?.cancel();
+    super.dispose();
+  }
+
   @override
   Widget build(BuildContext context) {
     Future<void> onPressSelectImage() => showModalBottomSheet<Uint8List?>(
           context: context,
           builder: (BuildContext context) =>
-              options.imagePickerContainerBuilder(
+              widget.options.imagePickerContainerBuilder(
             () => Navigator.of(context).pop(),
-            translations,
+            widget.translations,
           ),
         ).then(
           (image) async {
             var messenger = ScaffoldMessenger.of(context)
               ..showSnackBar(
-                getImageLoadingSnackbar(translations),
+                getImageLoadingSnackbar(widget.translations),
               );
 
             if (image != null) {
-              await onUploadImage(image);
+              await widget.onUploadImage(image);
             }
 
             messenger.hideCurrentSnackBar();
@@ -62,20 +107,20 @@ class ChatDetailScreen extends StatelessWidget {
       appBar: AppBar(
         centerTitle: true,
         title: GestureDetector(
-          onTap: onPressChatTitle,
+          onTap: widget.onPressChatTitle,
           child: Row(
             mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
-            children: chat == null
+            children: widget.chat == null
                 ? []
                 : [
-                    if (chat is GroupChatModel) ...[
-                      options.groupAvatarBuilder(
-                        (chat! as GroupChatModel).imageUrl,
+                    if (widget.chat is GroupChatModel) ...[
+                      widget.options.groupAvatarBuilder(
+                        (widget.chat! as GroupChatModel).imageUrl,
                         36.0,
                       ),
-                    ] else if (chat is PersonalChatModel) ...[
-                      options.userAvatarBuilder(
-                        (chat! as PersonalChatModel).user,
+                    ] else if (widget.chat is PersonalChatModel) ...[
+                      widget.options.userAvatarBuilder(
+                        (widget.chat! as PersonalChatModel).user,
                         36.0,
                       ),
                     ] else
@@ -84,10 +129,10 @@ class ChatDetailScreen extends StatelessWidget {
                       child: Padding(
                         padding: const EdgeInsets.only(left: 15.5),
                         child: Text(
-                          (chat is GroupChatModel)
-                              ? (chat! as GroupChatModel).title
-                              : (chat is PersonalChatModel)
-                                  ? (chat! as PersonalChatModel)
+                          (widget.chat is GroupChatModel)
+                              ? (widget.chat! as GroupChatModel).title
+                              : (widget.chat is PersonalChatModel)
+                                  ? (widget.chat! as PersonalChatModel)
                                           .user
                                           .fullName ??
                                       ''
@@ -104,13 +149,14 @@ class ChatDetailScreen extends StatelessWidget {
         children: [
           Expanded(
             child: StreamBuilder<List<ChatMessageModel>>(
-              stream: chatMessages,
+              stream: _chatMessages,
               builder: (BuildContext context, snapshot) => ListView(
                 reverse: true,
                 padding: const EdgeInsets.only(top: 24.0),
                 children: [
                   for (var message
-                      in (snapshot.data ?? chat?.messages ?? []).reversed)
+                      in (snapshot.data ?? widget.chat?.messages ?? [])
+                          .reversed)
                     ChatDetailRow(
                       message: message,
                     ),
@@ -118,14 +164,14 @@ class ChatDetailScreen extends StatelessWidget {
               ),
             ),
           ),
-          if (chat != null)
+          if (widget.chat != null)
             ChatBottom(
-              chat: chat!,
-              messageInputBuilder: options.messageInputBuilder,
+              chat: widget.chat!,
+              messageInputBuilder: widget.options.messageInputBuilder,
               onPressSelectImage: onPressSelectImage,
-              onMessageSubmit: onMessageSubmit,
-              translations: translations,
-              iconColor: iconColor,
+              onMessageSubmit: widget.onMessageSubmit,
+              translations: widget.translations,
+              iconColor: widget.iconColor,
             ),
         ],
       ),
diff --git a/packages/flutter_community_chat_view/pubspec.yaml b/packages/flutter_community_chat_view/pubspec.yaml
index b0a456a..e7e690a 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_community_chat_view/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/packages/flutter_community_chat_view/pubspec.yaml
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
 
 name: flutter_community_chat_view
 description: A standard flutter package.
-version: 0.3.3
+version: 0.3.4
 
 publish_to: none
 
 environment:
-  sdk: '>=2.18.2 <3.0.0'
+  sdk: '>=3.1.0 <4.0.0'
   flutter: ">=1.17.0"
 
 dependencies:
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ dependencies:
     git: 
        url: https://github.com/Iconica-Development/flutter_community_chat
        path: packages/flutter_community_chat_interface
-       ref: 0.3.3
+       ref: 0.3.4
   cached_network_image: ^3.2.2
   flutter_image_picker:
     git:
diff --git a/pubspec.yaml b/pubspec.yaml
index c3d88e0..fe778f0 100644
--- a/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/pubspec.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 name: flutter_community_chat_workspace
 
 environment:
-  sdk: '>=2.18.0 <3.0.0'
+  sdk: '>=3.1.0 <4.0.0'
 dev_dependencies:
   melos: ^3.0.1