For the last few years, Instagram and Facebook apps have provided ways to determine how long users are using these apps throughout the day. These apps also provide an option to set a daily time limit usage. The latest update suggests that the Instagram app has increased the daily time limit to 30 minutes, up from 15 or 10 minutes.
The set-up for a daily time limit displays an alert to the user when their app activity exceeds the mentioned limit. They prefer to remind them to stay aware of the amount of time they’re spending on the app and perhaps make it easier to opt-out of the app freely.
The company previously offered an Instagram limit set by users that could be as little as 15 minutes as little as 10 minutes daily. While it was making massive public relations push to suggest its services more mindfully, the Instagram application was feasible because concerns over social media addiction grew.
However, it appears that the attention-seeking advertising giant is now aiming to get Instagram users to spend more time watching content feeds on the social media platform, where it will earn money by focusing them on advertisements.
The American online newspaper, i.e., TechCrunch was informed of the Instagram changes to the settings by a tipster who posted their account images, which showed the company encourages users to “set the new limit for the daily limit.” Because the way describes it, “the available daily limits are changing in the course in an update to the application.” The app users had previously set an option for a daily limit of 10 minutes.
They advise that this option isn’t any longer available most likely; users who haven’t yet set a daily limit or chose another (higher) time limit are likely not even aware that the option of 10 minutes was no longer available. The Instagram notification that informs the user about this limit change states that they can keep their current 10-minute limitation.
It further says: “This value is no longer accepted. Please make a change.” it tends to cheat consumers into believing they must move to a longer limit of time. It employs explicit dark patterns to force users to change their limit, even with a pop-up notification just over the 10-minute limit, displayed on the “time in Instagram” app Settings page. “My choice is no longer available there if I attempt to change it. My previous time limit of 10 minutes doubles to 30 minutes, for it is now the minimum,” one of the tippers told the American online newspaper-TechCrunch. “They do not make any change, but if the app user enters to edit screen in the manner it directs, then suddenly stop the Instagram application to quit without changing the settings,” the user added.
Recently, we have seen Facebook/Meta employing a similar manipulative method of persistent notifications to force a policy change over WhatsApp customers in the midst of a massive T&Cs snarky — which has resulted in an ongoing investigation into the protection of consumers across the European Union. However, Facebook has an extensive and unpopular history of behavior. Therefore, nothing is shocking. Of course, this doesn’t make it any less acceptable.
It’s becoming harder for firms such as Meta to be able to pull the wool over their eyes. However, oversight bodies are beginning to wake up to the dark patterns. For instance, again in the European Union — lawmakers in the European Parliament who have recently unanimously backed the idea of putting limitations on these manipulative tactics in upcoming regulations that will be widely applicable to digital platforms.
The settings of the Facebook app are more specific. Users can set any duration limit by increments of 5 minutes. If a user has reached the time limit they have chosen within the app, a notification appears to inform them, or they can ignore it. When it first rolled on the new feature, Meta stated that the goal was to give users greater control over the amount of time using its apps and “foster discussions between teens and parents” about the importance of healthy habits online. The feature launched in November.
Instagram launched a “Take A Break” feature that reminds users, especially teenagers, to turn off their phones now. It’s not known why the Instagram app has reportedly increased the minimum daily limit. But the timing is intriguing given that Facebook app regular users dipped to a record low for the first time in the last quarter. However, the growth of users across the Meta family of applications (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) has remained nearly the same.
ABOUT AUTHOR
Barry is a lover of everything technology and finance (FinTech). Figuring out how the software works and creating content to shed more light on the value it offers users is his favorite pastime. When not evaluating apps or programs, he's busy trying out new healthy recipes, doing yoga, meditating, or taking nature walks with his little one.
