diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/server_events.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/server_events.js
index b8cc7f56c4..e14634912c 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/server_events.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/server_events.js
@@ -56,25 +56,6 @@ run_test('message_event', () => {
     assert(inserted);
 });
 
-run_test('pointer_event', () => {
-    const event = {
-        type: 'pointer',
-        pointer: 999,
-    };
-
-    global.pointer.furthest_read = 0;
-    global.pointer.set_furthest_read = function (value) {
-        this.furthest_read = value;
-    };
-    global.pointer.server_furthest_read = 0;
-    global.pointer.set_server_furthest_read = function (value) {
-        this.server_furthest_read = value;
-    };
-    server_events._get_events_success([event]);
-    assert.equal(global.pointer.furthest_read, event.pointer);
-    assert.equal(global.pointer.server_furthest_read, event.pointer);
-});
-
 // Start blueslip tests here
 
 const setup = function () {
diff --git a/static/js/message_store.js b/static/js/message_store.js
index 3cebaa1e1c..01a83d10ea 100644
--- a/static/js/message_store.js
+++ b/static/js/message_store.js
@@ -208,9 +208,6 @@ exports.add_message_metadata = function (message) {
 exports.reify_message_id = function (opts) {
     const old_id = opts.old_id;
     const new_id = opts.new_id;
-    if (pointer.furthest_read === old_id) {
-        pointer.set_furthest_read(new_id);
-    }
     if (stored_messages.has(old_id)) {
         stored_messages.set(new_id, stored_messages.get(old_id));
         stored_messages.delete(old_id);
diff --git a/static/js/pointer.js b/static/js/pointer.js
index d055501bee..c40be3a688 100644
--- a/static/js/pointer.js
+++ b/static/js/pointer.js
@@ -12,70 +12,12 @@ exports.suppress_scroll_pointer_update = false;
 exports.set_suppress_scroll_pointer_update = function (value) {
     exports.suppress_scroll_pointer_update = value;
 };
-exports.furthest_read = -1;
-exports.set_furthest_read = function (value) {
-    exports.furthest_read = value;
-};
-exports.server_furthest_read = -1;
-exports.set_server_furthest_read = function (value) {
-    exports.server_furthest_read = value;
-};
-
-let pointer_update_in_flight = false;
-
-function update_pointer() {
-    if (!pointer_update_in_flight) {
-        pointer_update_in_flight = true;
-        return channel.post({
-            url: '/json/users/me/pointer',
-            idempotent: true,
-            data: {pointer: exports.furthest_read},
-            success: function () {
-                exports.server_furthest_read = exports.furthest_read;
-                pointer_update_in_flight = false;
-            },
-            error: function () {
-                pointer_update_in_flight = false;
-            },
-        });
-    }
-    // Return an empty, resolved Deferred.
-    return $.when();
-}
-
-
-exports.send_pointer_update = function () {
-    // Only bother if you've read new messages.
-    if (exports.furthest_read > exports.server_furthest_read) {
-        update_pointer();
-    }
-};
 
 exports.initialize = function initialize() {
-    exports.server_furthest_read = page_params.pointer;
-    exports.furthest_read = exports.server_furthest_read;
-
-    // We only send pointer updates when the user has been idle for a
-    // short while to avoid hammering the server
-    $(document).idle({idle: 1000,
-                      onIdle: exports.send_pointer_update,
-                      keepTracking: true});
-
     $(document).on('message_selected.zulip', function (event) {
-        // Only advance the pointer when not narrowed
         if (event.id === -1) {
             return;
         }
-        // Additionally, don't advance the pointer server-side
-        // if the selected message is local-only
-        if (event.msg_list === home_msg_list && page_params.narrow_stream === undefined) {
-            if (event.id > exports.furthest_read) {
-                const msg = home_msg_list.get(event.id);
-                if (!msg.locally_echoed) {
-                    exports.furthest_read = event.id;
-                }
-            }
-        }
 
         if (event.mark_read && event.previously_selected !== -1) {
             // Mark messages between old pointer and new pointer as read
diff --git a/static/js/server_events.js b/static/js/server_events.js
index 47756a2d8f..a62598960a 100644
--- a/static/js/server_events.js
+++ b/static/js/server_events.js
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ function get_events_success(events) {
     let messages = [];
     const update_message_events = [];
     const post_message_events = [];
-    let new_pointer;
 
     const clean_event = function clean_event(event) {
         // Only log a whitelist of the event to remove private data
@@ -64,10 +63,6 @@ function get_events_success(events) {
             break;
         }
 
-        case 'pointer':
-            new_pointer = event.pointer;
-            break;
-
         case 'update_message':
             update_message_events.push(event);
             break;
@@ -125,13 +120,6 @@ function get_events_success(events) {
         }
     }
 
-    if (new_pointer !== undefined
-        && new_pointer > pointer.furthest_read) {
-        pointer.set_furthest_read(new_pointer);
-        pointer.set_server_furthest_read(new_pointer);
-        home_msg_list.select_id(new_pointer, {then_scroll: true, use_closest: true});
-    }
-
     if (home_msg_list.selected_id() === -1 && !home_msg_list.empty()) {
         home_msg_list.select_id(home_msg_list.first().id, {then_scroll: false});
     }