The word comes from Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, who shared the news on Twitter. The “take a break” feature functions exactly like it sounds, allowing users to set time intervals before receiving a notification to step aside from the app (via). Users can seemingly choose between 10, 20, and 30 minutes as the time intervals for the notification to pop up. When the timer runs out, a notification will appear on the users’ screens to close the app. Mosseri said the feature would arrive on Android and iOS devices later this week. The feature could be widely available by December.
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’m excited to dig into the results & hopefully launch this sometime in December. ✌🏼 pic.twitter.com/WdSTjL6ZdH — Adam Mosseri 😷 (@mosseri) November 10, 2021
Instagram Kids was recently put on hold following criticism from lawmakers
Instagram has faced scrutiny for some of its features, including algorithms that supposedly made teens unhappy. Last month, Meta (formerly Facebook) revealed its intentions to bring ‘take a break’ to Instagram. During an interview with CNN’s State of the Union, VP of Global Affairs at Meta, Nick Clegg said that the company would put systems in place to direct teens from content that “may not be conducive to their well-being.” This move isn’t unsurprising, considering the level of scrutiny on apps like Instagram and Facebook. While Meta is now aiming to focus on the development of its “metaverse,” it’s clear that some of the pertinent issues with its platforms won’t disappear overnight. The social media juggernaut also faces allegations of inaction, based on documentation provided by whistleblower Frances Haugen. Moreover, the company paused Instagram Kids due to the pushback from lawmakers. A joint statement by House and Senate Democrats in September said – “Facebook has completely forfeited the benefit of the doubt when it comes to protecting young people online and it must completely abandon this project.” Despite the relative setback, Mosseri insists that having a kid-specific version of Instagram could be beneficial. “But I think if you get into the details of this and you look at the actual practical realities, it’s, I think, a much more responsible path than where we are today,” he said last month.
