Facebook and Instagram Can Now Let You Know When You’ve Been Scrolling For Too Long
Thanks to new management features, Facebook and Instagram can now help users track how much time they actually spend on these apps.
The new update will feature a dashboard that shows users how long they have been using the apps in the past week. Users can also opt-in to receive notifications when they have reached a certain length of time in the app or block notifications from the app entirely for up to eight hours.
Facebook hopes this new feature will make people more aware of the amount of time they spend on social media and encourage them to allocate specific, meaningful time for social.
While this update has good intentions, the effectiveness may not be as impactful as planned. Users can simply ignore the time-limiting notifications or chose to not look at the dashboard altogether. Facebook has worked with researchers to develop these updates, however, no specific research can confirm that this information will make any meaningful behavioral changes in users.
From a business perspective, these new features could be hit or miss. For users who are aware that they may use social media a little too much, they may appreciate these features and actually implement a behavioral change. However, for users who are genuinely addicted to social media, these features may be nothing but a nuisance. Depending on the user, these new features could enhance brand loyalty or generate negative press from unhappy users.
Facebook and Instagram are committed to making these positive changes and encouraging a positive and purposeful use of their apps. They are dedicated to making the time spent in their apps time well spent.
As an avid social media user myself, I would benefit from these new features and try my best to make a behavioral change. I know I’ve caught myself aimlessly scrolling through Instagram while procrastinating a school assignment, and I would limit my time with these features and dedicate myself to more productive practices.
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