Facebook recently added a new quiet mode to help users control and manage their time on the app better. It has also updated the 'Your Time on Facebook' section to help users get more insight into how they spent time on the app.
"As we all adjust to new routines and staying home, setting boundaries for how you spend your time online can be helpful. We've added Quiet Mode, which mutes most push notifications, and if you try to open Facebook while in Quiet Mode, you’ll be reminded that you set this time aside to limit your time in the app. We've 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.", said Facebook.
You can either turn 'quiet mode' on right away or you can set a time of when you want to mute Facebook notifications. If you try to use Facebook while the app is set to quite mode, you will see an indication of how much time is left until the quiet mode ends and an option to access Facebook for just 15 minutes.
The new mode will not only stop notifications but will also hide those red dot notifications that appear on the app icon. This new addition is great especially during this time when more people are working from home and trying to avoid distractions to maintain a work-life balance.
As mentioned previously, Facebook has also enhanced the 'Your Time on Facebook' listings which it introduced back in 2018. With the most recent update, users can get more information on how they spend time on the app which also includes a week over week comparison. There's also an option to access Activity Log from the same place which shows your activity that includes posts you have shared, liked, or commented on. Although Activity Log is not anything new, by adding this option to the section, Facebook has made it easier to monitor your Facebook activity from one place.
While the usage of Facebook and other apps has significantly increased, it is important to take time off from them to focus better on yourself, your work, and your family. If you have kids then it is important that you spend more time with them as lockdowns can have an impact on their mental health, which we might have overlooked during this time.
We all need to disconnect from social media every now and then and draw a line between the social media world and other more important aspects of our lives. These additions can help draw those boundaries and help us become more productive.
