Instagram tests 'Take a break' feature - But it's just old tool re-pushed

Date:
Thu, 11 Nov 2021 04:22:49 +0000

Description:
Instagram is testing a feature that enables users to select a time period for a reminder to take a break from the app, which will then also suggest alternate activities they can do to get away for a moment.

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User digital well-being seems to be the name of the game as far as popular internet platforms go. YouTube, in a feel-good move, has taken away the dislike counts on the videos posted on it. Of course, Instagram itself had earlier removed dislike counts from public view on its platform.

Now, in another initiative aimed at mental wellness of the users, Instagram
is testing a new feature called Take a Break this week.

This is said to be an opt-in control, and those who have opted for it will receive break reminders in-app after a duration of their choosing.

Users can basically set reminders to take some time away from the app after a certain time of activity.

"When you receive a break reminder, well suggest you close Instagram and provide expert-backed tips on what you can do during the break," Instagram's head Adam Mosseri said. Instagram teases subscription model at Rs.89 per
month Why Facebook's entire Metaverse is rather ridiculous Time-management tools already exist

A post shared by Adam Mosseri (@mosseri)

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"Supporting peoples' well-being is a priority for us - and giving people ways to manage their time in a way that's intentional and meaningful is one way we're thinking about that," Mosseri added.

Based on the test results, Instagram is likely to launch this feature
sometime in December.

But, as it happens, the new time-limiting feature being tested is not exactly new.

Instagram and its parent Meta already allow for daily reminder and limit notifications. At the time of its introduction , Meta had said that it had developed the tools based on collaboration and inspiration from leading
mental health experts and organizations, academics, its own extensive
research and feedback from its community. "We want the time people spend on Facebook and Instagram to be intentional, positive and inspiring. Our hope is that these tools give people more control over the time they spend on our platforms," it had said then.

Meta also has a Quiet Mode feature that lets users mute alerts during certain parts of the day.

Quite obviously, existing tools allow for users on both Meta and Instagram to manage their time in the app. So essentially the new feature being tested doesn't add any new functionality, except perhaps provide insistent prompts
to those who have opted in.

The real challenge for Meta and Instagram may well be in getting people to click in for the time-management option. Otherwise, it may be just a cosmetic change that these platforms regularly come up with in the face of popular criticism that they just suck people's time away. Stay safe from pollution - Check out our best Air Purifiers in India Want to know about the latest happenings in tech?FollowTechRadar India on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram !



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/instagram-tests-take-a-break-feature-but-its-ju st-old-tool-re-pushed/


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