It appears the popular app Instagram will be rolling out a new feature soon – one that will tell you the exact amount of time you’re spending judging celebrities and double tapping on adorable pupper pics.
Prepare to feel extremely seen.
It all started as a little investigation by utter genius and total app detective Jane Manchun Wong who sussed the bloody coding of the Android application package. Yes, yes she did that.
Wong took her findings to twitter writing:
“Instagram is testing ‘Usage Insights’ to show the amount of time users have spent on the app. Be self aware or be prepared to be ashamed for Instagram addiction.”
I am not prepared.
Instagram is testing “Usage Insights” to show the amount of time users have spent on the app
Be self-aware or be prepared to be ashamed for Instagram addiction pic.twitter.com/WzyRGWIOgZ
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) May 15, 2018
This string suggests it pic.twitter.com/FfigbWsrvC
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) May 15, 2018
Also:
Sidenote, they are testing this sidebar as shown in the screenshot
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) May 15, 2018
Anywhoo, it’s currently unclear whether this feature will tell us a terrifying “total time” spent on the ‘gram or an equally terrifying “time spent today crying over dog accounts”.
Either way, it’ll be confronting.
Intrigued by it all, Tech Crunch decided to publish an article about Wong’s findings which Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom saw, re-tweeted, and confirmed via his twitter account:
It’s true. RT @TechCrunch: Code buried in Instagram’s Android app reveals a “Usage Insights” feature that will show users their “time spent” https://t.co/1Lt3DgIFEj
— Kevin Systrom (@kevin) May 16, 2018
In additional tweets, Systrom wrote the feature would help users properly reflect on time spent on social media:
“We’re building tools that will help the IG community know more about the time they spend on Instagram – any time should be positive and intentional.
Understanding how time online impacts people is important, and it’s the responsibility of all companies to be honest about this. We want to be part of the solution. I take that responsibility seriously.”
So yes, in all seriousness, this is actually a great thing when you think about how toxic Instagram can get at times especially after hours of passive-scrolling (we all do it).
There’s still no telling when the new feature will officially launch but until then, enjoy the app before the detox kicks in.
In other news, Insta will also cop future updates including a line of quick-add emojis and an @ button for tagging friends.
