Instagram Limits Users' Ability to Limit How Much Time They Spend in the App

[MacRumors]

Instagram has quietly removed the ability for its users to limit their daily usage of the app to less than 30 minutes, reports TechCrunch.

In 2018, Instagram introduced options in the app to set a daily time limit, with a reminder to be sent when that time limit is reached – useful for those who want to cut down on their social media usage. Originally, users were able to select a time limit as low as ten or even five minutes a day, but selecting such short durations is no longer possible.

Following the latest app update, the "Set daily time limit" menu card pops up and prompts users to choose how long that should be, with a new minimum of 30 minutes, while the radio button next to the maximum of three hours is pre-selected in the menu card, as if to nudge users to choose that limit.

The popup does say the user can keep their existing limit if they wish, but an additional popup on the activity page in the app says the 10-minute value is "no longer supported." Indeed, after the update, users will find the new limits available are now 30 minutes, 45 minutes, one hour, two hours, and three hours.

Neither Instagram nor parent company Meta (formerly Facebook) has commented on the quietly implemented change, which appears to run counter to Instagram's claim, made in 2018, that it wants to empower users to make intentional decisions about how much time they spend on the app.

The change arrives just a few months after Instagram introduced its "Take a Break" feature that lets users opt into receiving periodic reminders if they've been on the app for long stretches of time. As The Verge notes, when "Take a Break" was in testing, Instagram head Adam Mosseri said that "you know what's best for you when it comes to how you use the app."

The change follows disappointing quarterly earnings reported by Meta earlier this month, which saw the company slash its guidance for the first quarter of 2022 by $30 billion.

Meta partly blamed its weaker performance on steps taken by Apple to improve user privacy by making it harder for platforms and apps to track users across other apps and websites for ad targeting purposes, which Meta said will cost its business $10 billion this year.

Article Link: Instagram Limits Users' Ability to Limit How Much Time They Spend in the App

 

[Pakaku]

Fun fact: It is possible to set an even lower daily time limit by uninstalling Instagram

 

[Onelifenofear]

If you are spending 3 hours a day in Instagram then you need to step back and look at where your life went wrong.

 

[WiiDSmoker]

Been watching Inventing Anna. These type of people live and breathe Insta. Don’t know what else to say.

 

[Greenmeenie]

Meta is getting desperate

 

[TechRunner]

Well of course they made the time limits longer. It's hard to be exposed to two hundred meaningless ads if you're only using IG five or ten minutes a day.

 

[wanha]

When caring about people conflicts with your business model, corporations will almost always choose the latter.

 

[ian87w]

LOL. The dealer doesn't want to you to stop.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

My Screen Time daily average is 2hrs 20mins, and that seems like a lot even to me. I find it astonishing that so many people spend hours mindlessly scrolling this trash.

 

[robvalentine]

Just use screentime to set your own limits.

 

[scottinlexky]

IG is only good for T&A these days.

 

[svenning]

“We care about your mental health…kinda”

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

My Screen Time daily average is 2hrs 20mins, and that seems like a lot even to me. I find it astonishing that so many people spend hours mindlessly scrolling this trash.

Apps like instagram and TikTok aren't just social media apps. They are very deliberately and skillfully designed to keep you scrolling using feedback algorithms that are based on various studies on addiction.

Its really quite simple: Show super short videos that only play for a few seconds and auto-play the next video before you even get bored.

The more you use it, the better it gets at predicting what content makes you watch through to the next video and what videos make you exit the app.

Adults who didn't grow up using apps like these might understand what's going on. But kids and teens who grow up with these machines are oblivious to what's going on and grow up to become addicts.

 

[WiiDSmoker]

IG is only good for T&A these days.

TikTok too ?

 

[contacos]

Well I for one did not even know this option existed up until this post haha

—-

We did a survey once. Most teenagers did not even remember the clips they watched less than two minutes ago. Same reason why most charting songs are below 3 minutes now and use the same formulary of being catchy to get as many spins and TikTok dances within an hour. Really a mental addiction. It’s like the endless scrolling makes you relaxed without even taking in what you are watching. It’s quite sad really.

 

[Spacetime Anomaly]

Your drug dealer is not going to help you reduce your drug intake.

 

[jumpcutking]

I’ve seen some pretty bizarre tactics from Instagram to try to get more open rates. I still use screen time to limit it.

I’ve got a phantom message notification - with no unread, requests, spam filter or nothing showing in app.

But I’ve seen a dramatic increase in advertising so I just choose not to be on it much. The amount of story advertising is dreadful… in my opinion and the amount of spammy advertising is dreadful.

I’m becoming more and more addicted to TikTok… maybe I need to screen time limit that as well! ?

 

[contacos]

I’ve seen some pretty bizarre tactics from Instagram to try to get more open rates. I still use screen time to limit it.

I’ve got a phantom message notification - with no unread, requests, spam filter or nothing showing in app.

But I’ve seen a dramatic increase in advertising so I just choose not to be on it much. The amount of story advertising is dreadful… in my opinion and the amount of spammy advertising is dreadful.

I’m becoming more and more addicted to TikTok… maybe I need to screen time limit that as well! ?

I am using the mobile page as a Home Screen Web app now. No ads and no annoying shopping tab. I mostly hated the ads because they were always on the verge of being stalkish. I still have the app installed for when I want to post something however

 

[indychris]

Do people expect Hostess to limit how many Twinkies you can buy? I have never had an instagram account, but I still understand the concept of self-control. It's time for people to take responsibility for making good decisions and stop thinking it's always someone else's job to make sure their life choices are healthy.

 

[alanvitek]

Just use screentime to set your own limits.

Same thing I was going to say! Why use instagrams baked in settings over screen time?

 

[JM]

“We care about your mental health…kinda”

"Our studies have shown that at least 30 minutes a day of connecting with people in the MetaVerse is healthy. 9 out of 10 doctors agree*"

*Dr. Octagon, Dr. Dre, Doc Ock, Doctor Who, Doctor Strange, McDreamy, Dr. Scully, Dr. Watson, and Doogie all agree. Dr. Banner does not agree, because he is the Hulk and Hulk smash."

 

[no_idea]

At the end of the day, it’s up to the tweens to implement self control

 

[MVMNT]

This is what responsible looks like.

 

[ThisIsMike]

Been watching Inventing Anna. These type of people live and breathe Insta. Don’t know what else to say.

You’ll see me in the final episode court room scenes - enjoy!

 

[WiiDSmoker]

You’ll see me in the final episode court room scenes - enjoy!

Just finished episode 6. This story is crazy. Awesome that you got a cameo!