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Instagram Begins Testing A New Feature That Reminds Users To

Instagram addiction is a growing phenomenon across the world. While the popular social media platform offers unprecedented entertainment, connectivity, and information, its overuse constrains users everywhere and affects them adversely. As of 2021, Instagram is estimated to have 1.074 billion monthly active users worldwide.

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Instagram Begins Testing A New Feature That Reminds Users To

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  1. Instagram Begins Testing A New Feature ThatRemindsUsersTo‘TakeA Break’ Instagramaddictionisagrowingphenomenonacrossthe world. While the popular social media platform offers unprecedented entertainment, connectivity,and information, itsoveruseconstrains users everywhereand affects themadversely.Asof2021, Instagramisestimatedtohave 1.074 billion monthlyactive usersworldwide. 500millionoftheseactiveusers access Instagramstorieseveryday.Theaverageamountoftimespenton Instagramis 28minutes perday. To encourage users to take time out and remind them to consider the time they are spending on it, the Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, announced a new feature on Instagram. The new ‘Take a Break’ feature, developed along withmental healthcarespecialists,will limit thetimeusers spendon the application withthehelp ofopt-in preset reminders. Testing ‘TakeaBreak’,readMosseri’spost. Histweetfurtheradded,“We started testing a new feature called ‘Take a Break’ this week. This opt-in control enables you to receive break reminders in-app after a duration of your choosing.I’mexcited todiginto theresultsand hopefullylaunch this sometimeinDecember.” Allyouneed toknow about‘Takea Break’ The self-moderating optional feature will enable Instagram users to set reminders at regular intervals of 10, 20, or 30 minutes, prodding them to take a break from the app. Or else, the users can also choose the “Off” option to disable the feature. By activating the feature, users will be recommended to dootherthingslike“writedownwhat youarethinking,”“listen toyour favoritesong,” or“takeafew deepbreaths.”

  2. ‘Take a Break’ feature is part of a broader effort to give people more control overtheirexperienceofInstagramandcurb theincreasingaddictiontothe platform.“Ultimately,youknow what is rightforyouwhen it comestohow youusetheapp.Wewant tomakesureweoffertoolsforyoutoshape Instagramintowhat worksforyou,”said Mosseriinavideo. Picturesrevealedduringtheannouncementshowthatthenotificationwill display in users’ feeds but won’t take over the whole screen. In theory, this indicates,users could scroll right pastit. Thepsychologyoffollowers, likes, and comments Manystudieson social mediaand mental health havehighlighted that the prolonged useofplatformslikeInstagramcancausestress, depression,and anxiety.AsperTheWallStreetJournal,Instagramcarriedoutmanyonline surveys and studies in the last two years to understand how young people felt using their app. Some of the research they conducted showed that young users blamedInstagramforhigh levelsofanxietyand depression. Not only that, App Developer Peter Mezyk recently claimed that Facebook andInstagramuserscouldbecomedependentontheseappsas theywouldon painkillers.In astudyconductedbyHarvardUniversity,itwasfoundthatthe “reward” part of the brain that lights up in people indulging in addictions lights upforregularsocialmediaand Instagramusers too.Therushof dopamineoffersusers aliftsimilar tothatexperiencedbyusersaddictedto substanceuse. Yet another detrimental element of Instagram overuse is the obsession with likes, comments, followers, shares, and saves. Users are even found to sink into depression if any interaction goes wrong in their virtual lives. Isolation, low self-esteem, and strong adverse reactions to even the slightest impact on theironlinepersonashavebeen noted in various studies. The effects are many — and do not stop at health worries arising from spending long hours bent over on the phone screen, watching photos and videoswithoutbreaks.With thecommencement of‘Take aBreak’and similarfeaturesslatedtobe launched, thesocialmediaplatformfinallyseems tobemakingheadwayinplacingmorecontrolintheuser’shands.

  3. Instagram’sintenttorollout‘TakeaBreak’:Awelcomemove Lastweek,thesocialmediacompanytookastepin therightdirectionby announcing the news of testing time-outs. Although it remains to be seen how many users will voluntarily set reminders to evaluate the time they spend on Instagram, the feature appears to be a valuable PR exercise that attempts to conciliatecritics. Industryexperts haveembraced themoveandpredict thatitwill positively affect users who spend unhealthy time on various social media platforms. While commentingonthe announcement,MohitMirchandani, Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Digital Nod, said, “We are all addicted to screens.Theaverageamountoftimespent onlineisatan unhealthylevel rightnowandweneed totacklethis problem.”Mohit adds,“This is Instagram’s way of putting mental health first. A step like this is a welcome movein today’stimes.” Other popular platforms like Facebook and YouTube are making social media a safe space for its users. Like Instagram, Facebook, too, offers a ‘TakeaBreak’optiontoblock specificusersfromappearingin thefeed temporarily. Its ‘Quite Mode’ feature, which was introduced last year, allows users to mutenotifications. ‘Take a Break’ feature will pop up in your timeline, asking if you want to opt-in.Expecttoaccessit inDecember.

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