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I think the single best change Instagram done in a decade is the "ad break" that happens once you've scrolled through enough posts, which stops you for N second

I think the single best change Instagram done in a decade is the "ad break" that happens once you've scrolled through enough posts, which stops you for N seconds to stare at some random ad. I think I can scroll through 2-3 posts before my scrolling gets locked, and I close the app, and now I barely scroll Instagram at all anymore. Thank you Instagram!

voidUpdate 23d ago
When did that start for you? I've never seen that myself, I can keep scrolling as long as I want
- embedding-shape 23d ago
  Hmm, I think sometime in spring maybe. My wife tells me the same thing, she doesn't see those breaks. Not sure, I've had my Instagram account since 2010 I think, maybe like a reverse-grandfathering or just long-running A/B test? I opened Instagram and scrolled now just to reproduce it again, and I saw one "normal" post before this "ad break" appeared for me: https://i.imgur.com/SS6kuKV.png https://i.imgur.com/SS6kuKV.png
  - izacus 23d ago
    Those ad breaks only appear if you opt out of personalized tracking. They're a punishment for you because you won't let them collect data. FB app does that too.
    - embedding-shape 23d ago
      Well, in my case it seems like a win-win, less of a punishment and more of an extra feature I gained for making the right choice I guess. It's all the eyes of the beholder!
      - izacus 23d ago
        Yeah, same here, but that's the reason why others aren't seeing it :)
  - voidUpdate 23d ago
    Content not viewable in my region :P
    - embedding-shape 23d ago
      Ay, I'm glad we now have country-specific internets, very fun :) I uploaded the image to https://i.postimg.cc/Cx6fYh8p/image.png https://i.postimg.cc/Cx6fYh8p/image.png instead, hopefully you're not on corporate network blocking the (used to be) shady .cc tld. To add further humor on top of this, I think i.postimg.cc TLS certificate just now/yesterday expired??? Not sure if it's just me, but the certificate says it expired "Thu, 10 Sep 2026 20:49:55 GMT" although I did manage to upload the image, maybe different host...
      - voidUpdate 23d ago
        Nope, cert expired so I'm not allowed to view it XD It's alright, other comments say that it's because of protecting your privacy, which I guess I haven't done
  - deleted 23d ago
    [deleted]
- pif 23d ago
  You get that when you refuse personalised ads.
pokot0 23d ago
The problem is that they measure this, and if it's true for many they will just change it until they find the right way to keep you there. It's a giant machine dedicated to turn users into addicts. Regulation (sad) and most of all education is the only things that I believe can help here. Tax them -> spend in education.... not that I think it will happen though! :)
matwood 23d ago
Same! It's a great reminder to stop scrolling and close the app.
boesboes 23d ago
That's me with old.reddit .com, best change they ever made was starting to block that. I haven't been on reddit in over a month and have, this may or may not be related, felt a lot less depressed and stressed
- pvab3 23d ago
  old reddit isn't really blocked, you just have to be logged in
  - ThatMedicIsASpy 23d ago
    I'll not login on the couch tablet so no more reddit for me on it.
    - bcraven 23d ago
      If you're worried about addictive scrolling perhaps your "couch tablet" is worth side-eyeing.
      - creaturemachine 23d ago
        I've yet to find a more suitable use for a tablet. Maybe the whole device class is cooked.
        BobaFloutist 23d ago
        They're not bad for note-taking in STEM courses.
        MrMorden 23d ago
        For math classes where the instructor requires you to upload the work I use OneNote on my desktop (copy in the homework problem) and tablet (do the work).
      - ThatMedicIsASpy 23d ago
Simulacra 23d ago
I don't really see people using Instagram anymore, it seems like it's mostly turned into a static photo album. For example, I've seen people use Instagram links on dating profiles. For more, see IG @...
- embedding-shape 23d ago
  > I don't really see people using Instagram anymore > I've seen people use Instagram links on dating profiles Does that not count as using Instagram or?
wett 23d ago
https://one-sec.app https://one-sec.app Plugging the thing that finally got me off IG. Now if I need to see something I use the browser and it’s so terrible that I get pissed trying to scroll after I saw what I opened the page for.

voidUpdate 23d ago

When did that start for you? I've never seen that myself, I can keep scrolling as long as I want

embedding-shape 23d ago
Hmm, I think sometime in spring maybe. My wife tells me the same thing, she doesn't see those breaks. Not sure, I've had my Instagram account since 2010 I think, maybe like a reverse-grandfathering or just long-running A/B test? I opened Instagram and scrolled now just to reproduce it again, and I saw one "normal" post before this "ad break" appeared for me: https://i.imgur.com/SS6kuKV.png https://i.imgur.com/SS6kuKV.png
- izacus 23d ago
  Those ad breaks only appear if you opt out of personalized tracking. They're a punishment for you because you won't let them collect data. FB app does that too.
  - embedding-shape 23d ago
    Well, in my case it seems like a win-win, less of a punishment and more of an extra feature I gained for making the right choice I guess. It's all the eyes of the beholder!
    - izacus 23d ago
      Yeah, same here, but that's the reason why others aren't seeing it :)
- voidUpdate 23d ago
  Content not viewable in my region :P
  - embedding-shape 23d ago
    Ay, I'm glad we now have country-specific internets, very fun :) I uploaded the image to https://i.postimg.cc/Cx6fYh8p/image.png https://i.postimg.cc/Cx6fYh8p/image.png instead, hopefully you're not on corporate network blocking the (used to be) shady .cc tld. To add further humor on top of this, I think i.postimg.cc TLS certificate just now/yesterday expired??? Not sure if it's just me, but the certificate says it expired "Thu, 10 Sep 2026 20:49:55 GMT" although I did manage to upload the image, maybe different host...
    - voidUpdate 23d ago
      Nope, cert expired so I'm not allowed to view it XD It's alright, other comments say that it's because of protecting your privacy, which I guess I haven't done
- deleted 23d ago
  [deleted]
pif 23d ago
You get that when you refuse personalised ads.

pokot0 23d ago

The problem is that they measure this, and if it's true for many they will just change it until they find the right way to keep you there. It's a giant machine dedicated to turn users into addicts. Regulation (sad) and most of all education is the only things that I believe can help here. Tax them -> spend in education.... not that I think it will happen though! :)

matwood 23d ago

Same! It's a great reminder to stop scrolling and close the app.

boesboes 23d ago

That's me with old.reddit .com, best change they ever made was starting to block that. I haven't been on reddit in over a month and have, this may or may not be related, felt a lot less depressed and stressed

pvab3 23d ago
old reddit isn't really blocked, you just have to be logged in
- ThatMedicIsASpy 23d ago
  I'll not login on the couch tablet so no more reddit for me on it.
  - bcraven 23d ago
    If you're worried about addictive scrolling perhaps your "couch tablet" is worth side-eyeing.
    - creaturemachine 23d ago
      I've yet to find a more suitable use for a tablet. Maybe the whole device class is cooked.
      - BobaFloutist 23d ago
        They're not bad for note-taking in STEM courses.
        MrMorden 23d ago
        For math classes where the instructor requires you to upload the work I use OneNote on my desktop (copy in the homework problem) and tablet (do the work).
    - ThatMedicIsASpy 23d ago

Simulacra 23d ago

I don't really see people using Instagram anymore, it seems like it's mostly turned into a static photo album. For example, I've seen people use Instagram links on dating profiles. For more, see IG @...

embedding-shape 23d ago
> I don't really see people using Instagram anymore > I've seen people use Instagram links on dating profiles Does that not count as using Instagram or?

wett 23d ago

https://one-sec.app https://one-sec.app Plugging the thing that finally got me off IG. Now if I need to see something I use the browser and it’s so terrible that I get pissed trying to scroll after I saw what I opened the page for.