Facebook and Instagram today are announcing new tools within their respective mobile apps that help you manage how much time you’re spending on the platforms. This comes as major players in the tech space such as Apple and Google are developing their own sets of features that let users see how much time they spend on their phones each day.
With Facebook and Instagram, you can view how long you’re on either app with a log that records your daily activity and displays it in a weekly view. In Instagram, the panel’s accessible via Settings > Your Activity, while on Facebook, you go to Settings > Yout Time on Facebook. You can tap any of the bars present to see how long you were on the apps on those certain days and set a daily reminder so you know to get off the app once your time is up. Of course, you can always dismiss and ignore the reminder.
Instagram and Facebook are also allowing users to control their notifications with better controls. Tapping “Notification Settings” now allows you to mute notifications in either app and allow you to limit the number of times the platforms bug you with pop-ups and distracting sounds. You can set the amount of time you’d like your notifications muted as well.
“We developed these tools based on collaboration and inspiration from leading mental health experts and organizations, academics, our own extensive research and feedback from our community,” said Ameet Ranadive and David Ginsberg of Instagram and Facebook, respectively. “We want the time people spend on Instagram and Facebook to be intentional, positive and inspiring. Our hope is that these tools give people more control over the time they spend on our platforms and also foster conversations between parents and teens about the online habits that are right for them.”
It’s not just about the time people spend on Instagram and Facebook but how they spend that time. It’s our responsibility to talk openly about how time online impacts people — and we take that responsibility seriously. These new tools are an important first step, and we are committed to continuing our work to foster safe, kind and supportive communities for everyone.
Both companies say the new features should begin rolling out soon to iOS and Android.
