Facebook wants to help fight social media fatigue with a new feature that mutes notifications and lets users schedule breaks from browsing. The tool, dubbed Quiet Mode, aims to "find the right balance" between endless scrolling and refreshing and avoiding social contact altogether.
"As we all adjust to new routines and staying home, setting boundaries for how you spend your time online can be helpful," says Kang-Xing Jin, head of Health at Facebook. "Whether it's to help you focus on your family and friends, sleep without distraction, or manage how you spend your time at home, we have tools that can help."
Trigger Quiet Mode via the in-app Settings menu, where you can schedule it to kick in at a certain time or turn it on immediately, according to CNET. (As of press time, I do not appear to have access to the function.) Once activated, notifications are temporarily paused. And, if you try to open Facebook, you'll be met with a reminder that you need to find something else to do for the duration.
"We also added shortcuts to Notification Settings and News Feed Preferences, so you can make the most of your time on Facebook by controlling the type of posts you see in your News Feed as well as the updates you receive," Jin explained.
Keep an eye out for the new feature, rolling out globally to iOS users. The social network is reportedly working on an Android version scheduled for release in May.
You can already see how much time you're spending on Facebook. Navigate to Settings & Privacy > Your Time on Facebook for a rundown of how much time per day you spend on the social network.
Further Reading
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