Facebook-owned Instagram could become the latest app to let the users know how much time they spent on its site if one goes by the report from one of the researchers. This user found the function within Instagram’s Android app and interestingly, Instagram officially responded by confirming this information.
The confirmation came in the form of Tweets from the CEO Kevin Systrom and he claimed the company was working on developing tools within the app that are helpful to the users in knowing what they were up to and how much they spent within the app.
“It’s true . . . 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,” he said in the Tweet.
This code, which is almost hidden in Instagram’s Android app shows a certain “Usage Insights” feature. This feature shows users the “time spent”. However, according to a TechCrunch report, it isn’t yet clear what exactly the number indicates – if it’s the total number spent on Instagram overall, or if its time spent in each session, in a day, week or month.
Instagram has also reportedly ‘prototyped’ a new commenting interface with a row of quick-add emojis and an @ button for tagging friends.
Google and Facebook already have similar features and though Instagram is yet to provide the finer details of how it will go about making these reports available to the users. Google may go one step further and incorporate some new features in its next OS version, the Android P.
These features will be of use to the smartphone users in knowing how they used their phones, how much time they spent on individual apps and so on. Google feels such information in the hands of the customers could help them with better control on how they handle such devices in their daily routines.