There are people who spend their time searching the coding of apps to see if they can find any new features being tested. Then they tweet about these new features being tested and outlets like us write about those new features, then share those stories on the platforms we are writing about. It’s the circle of life.

Jane Wong is one such app-buster and she has uncovered a new feature Instagram is testing, which will break down exactly how much time you are wasting on Instagram. It’s called Usage Insights and it would appear to be a self-checking mechanism, the likes of which we will begin to see more and more of as social media becomes known as the smoking of our generation.

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

Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom confirmed the news shortly after Wong tweeted, writing: “It’s true” with a link to a news story, before elaborating.

“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.”

Well, it’s a good step in self actualisation: after all you can’t change behaviour that you don’t measure.

But, this all begs the question: what if we get addicted to checking how much time we’ve spent on Instagram?

The article was originally published on Brag Magazine