Facebook Inc. appears to be working on a new tool that will allow users to keep track of how much time they spend on its platform and set usage limits for themselves.

According to a TechCrunch report from this morning, Boston-based engineer Jane Manchun Wong uncovered the feature after digging into Facebook’s Android app. The company confirmed the discovery, telling the publication that “we’re always working on new ways to help make sure people’s time on Facebook is time well spent.”

The news comes just a few weeks after Wong found a similar tool hidden in the code of Instagram’s Android app. Kevin Systrom, chief executive officer of the Facebook subsidiary, personally confirmed that his group is developing a usage tracking feature following the discovery.

No details are available as of yet about what information Instagram will show users. However, it’s reasonable to assume that the feature will share at least some similarities with the one parent company Facebook is developing. A screenshot shared by Wong (below) shows that the social network’s usage tracking tool can display how much browsing time a user has clocked up in each of the past seven days, as well as calculate a daily average for the period.

Facebook is working on “Your Time on Facebook” which could help users to manage their time spent on Facebook app.

Instagram is also working on helping users to improve their digital wellbeing: https://t.co/y38mV3RtqB

as previously spotted: https://t.co/D26M9RuSxG pic.twitter.com/YqSyH0fpII

— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) June 22, 2018

The screenshot also shows what appears to be a notification mechanism tied to the activity metrics. If this function makes it into the final version, users will gain the ability to set up a daily time limit and have the social network notify them when they hit it.

The tool’s relatively simplistic layout suggests that development may still be in a fairly early stage, which means Facebook might make significant changes before release. One obvious way the company could improve the feature is by extending the time period for which activity data is shown beyond seven days.

Facebook’s push to provide users with more visibility into their social media use is part of a broader movement in the tech industry to foster healthier digital habits. Apple Inc. earlier this month unveiled a new version of iOS with features that will enable users to track how much time they spend on their devices, while the next iteration of Android is set to bring similar capabilities.

Image: Pixabay