Instagram is testing a new user wellbeing option called ‘Take a Break’, which will enable users to set reminders to take some time away from the app after a certain period of activity (you set your time limit) – either 10-, 20- or 30-minutes.
Adam Mosseri – Head of Instagram, (@mosseri) breaks this feature down in a video:
For one, this is still optional, and you have to explicitly enable it rather than being a default feature, though that’s understandable since this is still a voluntary experiment. For it to actually be useful, Instagram will probably have to enable it by default when it rolls out or prompt users to select their time limit when the feature becomes available.
At the moment, there are only three preset durations of 10, 20, and 30 minutes in addition to completely disabling the reminder.
Instagram should probably also devise a way to actually enforce taking a break. For this test drive, users can simply dismiss the reminder and continue scrolling. Given human nature, that practically defeats the entire purpose of reminding users to take a break.
Which then begs the question as to what true value the new option will provide. If users can already do this, then the real push needs to be on how to make people take such action, which maybe these new push notifications will do. But really, Instagram can’t stop you using the app for as long as you want, and not many users are going to voluntarily restrict their time.
So realistically speaking, it be effective?
It’s hard to see this adding a lot to the process, since it requires a huge shift in human behaviourism.
But maybe, this is more valuable as a social experiment, in response to the claims that Instagram can be harmful to users. Meta is giving users the tools to better manage such, but it can’t be responsible for dictating your time. You either choose to set limits or you don’t.
We’ll see how many people actually switch on the new alerts. Follow @itp.live to keep updated on this topic!