Introducing a time limit tool on social media

Submitted by: The Two Sides Team August 2, 2018

A new tool has been introduced on Facebook and Instagram to limit how much time people are spending on these apps.

The decision was based on concerns that excessive social media use can have a negative impact on mental health. A recent BBC article demonstrates that consumers have become too dependent on their phones and checking social media.

Our Print and Paper in a Digital World research identified similar concerns surrounding the impacts of digital consumption on health. For instance, 52% agreed that they spend too much time on electronic devices and 53% are concerned the overuse of electronic devices could be damaging to their health (eyestrain, sleep deprivation, headaches). A further one third agree they are suffering from “digital overload”.

The recent phenomenon of social media has given rise to “fake news”, leading consumers to constantly question whether what they are reading online is accurate and true. We found that consumers across the world have very little trust in social media as a source of news.  With just 24% of global respondents trusting the news stories they read on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

The new tool will enable users to check how much time they are spending on the app, allowing them to set a reminder for when they’ve reached their allotted time and then mute any notifications for a period of time.

There are mixed responses about the announcement of the new tool, some believe that it will not change how people use Facebook and Instagram as people are already aware how much time they are spending on these apps, although they do believe the reminders will be useful.

This correlates with our own research where 69% of all respondents believe it is important to “switch off” and enjoy print more.

For more information about our research, Print and Paper in a Digital World, click here.

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