Instagram is rolling out new take a break and nudge features
Instagram is rolling out new 'take a break' and 'nudge' features
In order to protect the mental health of teens and young users, Facebook wants to give them the option of viewing alternative content while on Instagram or taking a break from the app. According to CNN, Vice President for Global Affairs and Communications Nick Clegg announced the new feature, which will be used in conjunction with the existing 'nudge' feature.
As a result of her testimony before the United States Congress, whistleblower and former Facebook product manager Frances Haugen has revealed that the company was aware of the harm that its social media network was causing its users' well-being but chose to ignore it. Frances Haugen is a former Facebook product manager who worked in product development.
This feature will be used by Facebook to detect when a young user is viewing the same piece of content over and over again, and to determine whether the content is beneficial to their well-being. A prompt or suggestion for additional content that they may find interesting will then be displayed, which will act as a 'nudge' for them.
While this feature is completely dependent on the user's preference, the previous one is not. In this case, the user has the option of ignoring the 'nudge' or following the prompt because the feed that is being viewed will not be forced to refresh.
When users have spent an excessive amount of time on the app, the 'take a break' feature notifies them and encourages them to take a break. Once again, the final decision is left to the discretion of the user.
Facebook is working hard to repair its tarnished reputation
After being involved in a legal battle with US authorities over the way their apps are affecting the welfare of the country's youth, Facebook is attempting to repair its reputation.
New blog post from the company detailing its efforts to promote mental health conversations across its platforms was published on its website this week.
Also mentioned was the existence of an Emotional Health Center where users can access guides on how to navigate the app safely, along with suggestions for groups to engage in mental health conversations.
With the help of Facebook-owned WhatsApp, UNICEF has launched a new Global Mental Health chatbot to help people around the world. The chatbot provides communication tips as well as information on new suicide prevention resources.
Some, on the other hand, have criticized these measures as being overly reactive. As a result of the whistleblower's disclosure, Facebook was aware that Instagram was harmful to teens before the whistleblower's revelation. This was based on its own research. Furthermore, all of these new features are being implemented in response to the whistleblower's congressional testimony, which is yet another reason.
The impact of social media on the mental health of young people
Several studies have found that Instagram is the most popular app among Generation Z users in the United States, with users spending nearly an hour per day on the app, according to Forbes. According to Statista, between the ages of 13 and 24, approximately 34.3 percent of Instagram users in Nigeria are between 13 and 24 years old.
Because of their enormous popularity among teenagers and young adults, social media agency such as Popularitybazaar and social media platforms such as platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram are increasingly being asked to regulate the content on their apps as well as to manage screen time.
A content series called "You're in Control" on TikTok, a video-based social media platform, pairs popular creators with critical health and safety messages in an effort to raise awareness about these issues.
When tiktok users open the app, they'll see videos from content creators encouraging them to go outside, log off and sleep, or eat something healthy and nutritious. Users can also set a daily time limit for how much time they spend on the app, which is part of the app's digital well-being feature as well. When the timer expires, the user will be prompted to enter a passcode in order to re-enter the app for the first time.
Many of these features are reliant on the user's actions, as the user can choose to ignore any and all prompts, raising questions about their effectiveness. According to Facebook, on the other hand, the social media platform is doing everything in its power to ensure that its products are enjoyable and safe to use.
