Does a sent-message record prove the recipient received it?¶

No. “Sent” usually records dispatch or an attempted dispatch within the sender's device or service, not delivery to or awareness by a person.

Status definitions matter¶

A message may remain queued, fail, reach the provider, go to the wrong account or be delivered to an unattended linked device. Services define sent, delivered and read differently. Record exact status, timestamp, transport and the event that caused the label.

Build the delivery chain¶

Compare sender, network or app-provider and recipient-side records using message IDs and sessions. Technical delivery identifies an endpoint, while personal receipt and knowledge require further evidence. Delivered still does not mean read.