HIGHLIGHTS 

Users on iOS may now use Instagram's Take a Break function.

Previously, it was accessible in six countries, including the United States.

A notice will appear for younger users, urging them to enable the function.

WHY IN NEWS 

Instagram said on Friday that its 'Take a Break' function is now available in all countries, including India. The tool allows users to set reminders to take a break from scrolling after a particular amount of time has passed, and it is available to all users on the service as an option. Take a Break will be added to Instagram's current Daily Restriction feature, which allows users to set a daily limit on how much time they spend on the platform. With a campaign named Break Zaroori Hai, the Meta-owned firm has worked with youth portal We The Young to raise awareness about the feature.

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Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri revealed in November that the Take a Break function is meant to encourage users to exit the app after a particular amount of time has passed. According to Mosseri, the function is fully optional, and users may choose between 10-, 20-, or 30-minute intervals to be reminded to take a break from the app. After a few months of testing in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, the functionality is now being rolled out to all nations. While the Take a Break feature will be voluntary, with users having to opt in to get reminders, Instagram claims that it will appear for users who have been scrolling for a particular length of time. According to the firm, users will be prompted to set up reminders to take more breaks in the future, as well as 'expert-backed advice to help them reflect and refresh.' Younger users will receive messages recommending that they enable the Take a Break feature.

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Last year, when whistleblower Frances Haugen disclosed that the company's own study suggested Instagram might have negative consequences on young users' mental health, Meta (previously known as Facebook) came under fire. Shortly after the discoveries, Instagram began testing the Take a Break feature to assist younger users who wished to spend less time on the service. According to Instagram, the new Take a Break function is already accessible on iOS and will be rolled out to Android users in the following weeks.