Are You Here For This? Instagram’s New Feature Will Now Tell Users When To Take A Break From Using The App
On Tuesday, Instagram rolled out a new tool in the United States and several other countries that encourage younger users to take a break from the social media app if they have been using it for a long period of time.
The new “Take a Break” tool offers a reminder for teenagers who spend a lot of time on Instagram and an extra layer of protection from potentially harmful content. Users can turn on the feature in “Settings” and select if they want to be alerted after using the platform for 10 minutes, 20 minutes, or 30 minutes, CNN notes. They’ll then get a full-screen alert telling them to close out of the app, suggesting to do something else like take a deep breath, write something down, or even check a to-do list or listen to a song.
The feature that was announced back in September will first come to users in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, and all users in the coming months.
Instagram tweeted on its official website:
“It’s OK to take a break. ❤️
We want your time on Instagram to be positive and intentional. Starting today, you can now add reminders to take a break while you’re scrolling on Instagram.”