Instagram Encourages Teens to Unplug and Get Some Sleep

Meta is stepping up to encourage healthier social media use for Instagram’s younger users. New ‘nighttime nudges’ will be issued to teens after spending more than 10 minutes scrolling through Reels or Direct Messages “late at night.” Meta is of the opinion that “sleep is important, particularly for young people,” and is hoping these nudges will encourage a good night’s rest. The company’s latest effort is part of its ongoing work to address longstanding criticisms regarding social media’s harmful effects on users, especially younger ones. New mandatory content restrictions and privacy safeguards are expected to be rolled out soon, and the company has also introduced a suite of parental supervision tools that offer more control over a teenager’s device usage. Meta’s CEO and other tech industry heads are scheduled to testify in a Senate hearing about online child safety on January 31.