Facebook also wants to show you how much time you spend in its app

Facebook may soon tell you to take a break,
 By 
Karissa Bell
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

It looks like Facebook may soon be able to nudge you to spend less time in its app.

The company appears to be testing a new feature that shows statistics about "your time on Facebook," which could help remind users to take breaks from the app.

Screenshots of the feature reveal a new menu that shows you how many minutes you've spent in the Facebook app over the last week. There's also a "manage your time" section, which will send you a notification when you've reached a pre-determined time limit in the app.

The feature, which was uncovered by developer Jane Manchun Wong, looks very similar to Instagram's upcoming "usage insights," another feature that's meant to help manage your time spent in the app.

Facebook didn't immediately respond to a request for comment, but such a feature would fit in with the company's increasing emphasis on ensuring "time well spent." While the social network and others have historically valued time spent in its app, tech companies are facing increasing scrutiny over the addictive qualities of their products.

Earlier this year, Google and Apple both introduced features for Android and iOS, which will help users monitor how much time they are spending in apps and on their phones.

It's not clear when these features will officially launch, but their presence in the code for Android app suggests the company is actively testing them out. Facebook typically tests new features among its own employees before launching them more widely.

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Karissa Bell

Karissa was Mashable's Senior Tech Reporter, and is based in San Francisco. She covers social media platforms, Silicon Valley, and the many ways technology is changing our lives. Her work has also appeared in Wired, Macworld, Popular Mechanics, and The Wirecutter. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding and watching too many cat videos on Instagram. Follow her on Twitter @karissabe.

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