Instagram rolls out new feature asking users to 'take a break'


After facing scrutiny over how its app affects young people, Instagram is launching some new features, including one encouraging users to take breaks.
Instagram on Tuesday announced that it's rolling out this new "Take a Break" feature in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. "If someone has been scrolling for a certain amount of time," Instagram head Adam Mosseri said, "we'll ask them to take a break from Instagram and suggest that they set reminders to take more breaks in the future." The app will also show users "expert-backed tips to help them reflect and reset."
The new feature comes after The Wall Street Journal reported that Facebook researchers found Instagram is harmful for a "sizable percentage" of users, "most notably teenage girls." Mosseri on Tuesday said Instagram will ensure teens are aware of the Take a Break feature by showing them notifications "suggesting they turn these reminders on," as the feature won't automatically be activated. After testing the feature, CNN wrote that it has "room for improvement," noting the timer tracking how long a user has been on Instagram resets when the app is briefly closed.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Instagram also announced a number of other new safety features Tuesday, with Mosseri saying the app will "stop people from tagging or mentioning teens that don't follow them," as well as be "stricter" about what it recommends teens and start "nudging" them toward different topics if they've been "dwelling" on one for too long. The company will launch new tools for parents, allowing them to set time limits dictating how much time their teens can spend on Instagram, Mosseri also said.
The announcement also comes a day before Mosseri is scheduled to testify before Congress, and a spokesperson for Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) suggested to The Washington Post that Instagram's announcement was an attempt to "draw attention away from things they don't want highlighted at Wednesday's hearing."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
5 cultural trails to traverse by car
The Week Recommends Leave the hiking shoes at home
-
Could Iran's water crisis be the regime's tipping point?
Today's Big Question Drought is a problem. So is government mismanagement.
-
Trump revives K-12 Presidential Fitness Test
Speed Read The Obama administration phased the test out in 2012, replacing it with a program focused on overall health rather than standardized benchmarks
-
Samsung to make Tesla chips in $16.5B deal
Speed Read Tesla has signed a deal to get its next-generation chips from Samsung
-
FCC greenlights $8B Paramount-Skydance merger
Speed Read The Federal Communications Commission will allow Paramount to merge with the Hollywood studio Skydance
-
Tesla reports plummeting profits
Speed Read The company may soon face more problems with the expiration of federal electric vehicle tax credits
-
Dollar faces historic slump as stocks hit new high
Speed Read While stocks have recovered post-Trump tariffs, the dollar has weakened more than 10% this year
-
Economists fear US inflation data less reliable
speed read The Labor Department is collecting less data for its consumer price index due to staffing shortages
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement