Instagram has launched a new feature called ‘Quiet Mode’ to help users focus and set boundaries with their friends and followers. This feature is currently available in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Quiet Mode allows users to turn off Instagram notifications temporarily. It also sends an auto-reply when you receive a DM, notifying the sender that you’ve currently enabled Quiet Mode. This allows users to focus on things like driving or studying without being distracted by notifications.
The Perks of Quiet Mode
Quiet Mode could be a beneficial feature for students. As per Instagram, many teens have told them that sometimes they wish to take time out for themselves. They have also reported a desire for more ways to focus at night while studying and during school hours.
While this feature is available for everyone, Instagram will particularly prompt teens to use it when they spend a specific amount of time on Instagram late at night. However, the platform hasn’t specified how much time one must spend on the app to see the prompt.
Users can also easily customize Quiet Mode to fit individual schedules. Once the feature is turned off, Instagram will show a quick summary of notifications to catch up on what was missed.
Recently, Instagram added the ability for parents to see their teen’s Instagram settings, including privacy and account settings. If their teen updates a location, parents will receive a notification so they can talk to their teen about the change. Parents can also view accounts their teen has blocked.
This feature could be handy for teenagers who feel they have become “addicted” to Instagram. The platform has also faced criticism for affecting the mental health of young adults, particularly young women.
In 2021, leaked documents revealed that one in three girls had increased body image issues due to beauty standards presented on the app. Quiet Mode could prove to be an effective solution for this widespread problem.
More New Features
Besides Quiet Mode, Instagram has also recently introduced two additional features, as announced by Instagram Head Adam Mosseri. These features aim to give users more control over the content they see on the platform.
The first of these features is Hidden Words for Recommendations. This allows users to add a word or list of words, emojis, or hashtags they want to avoid seeing. Instagram will no longer recommend content with those words in the caption or the hashtag. Users can access this in the Hidden Words section of Privacy settings.
The second feature is Not Interested Multi-Select. This option allows users to hide multiple pieces of content in Explore tab that they aren’t interested in. Additionally, when one selects ‘Not Interested’ on a post seen in Explore, Instagram will aim to avoid showing you this kind of content in the future in other places such as Reels and Search results.
An Optimal User Experience
Instagram’s new features effectively allow users to set boundaries and focus on their priorities. The platform has also introduced new ways to manage recommended content, giving users more control over what they see.
These updates are part of Instagram’s ongoing work to ensure that people have optimized experiences and greater control over their online time and experience.
