Google announces Pause Point feature to fight doomscrolling on Android
Google announced an anti-doomscrolling feature called Pause Point. This is a new Android feature designed to help people avoid distractions from social apps. It will add a 10-second pause before opening apps like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
You may have noticed that sometimes you don’t know, but your hand has automatically unlocked the smartphone and, without any thinking, opened social apps. And then what? You lose track of time, and before you realise, you’re already mentally drained. As modern smartphones are extremely good at capturing attention, users are getting frustrated with this kind of compulsive scrolling.
Google apparently has a solution. The company on Tuesday announced an anti-doomscrolling feature called Pause Point. This is designed to reduce compulsive app usage from platforms like TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube. In a blog post, the company described the feature, noting that when a user opens a distracting app, Pause Point offers a 10-second breather — prompting the question, "Why am I here?" The brief pause may encourage users to reflect on their intentions before diving in, potentially serving as a gentle reminder of what deserves their attention more.
During those 10 seconds, Android may show users breathing exercises, reminders, favourite photos, or suggestions for healthier alternatives such as reading or listening to audiobooks. They can also set a timer to limit how long they spend in the app. Instead of completely blocking access, Pause Point aims to interrupt automatic behaviour and help people become more aware of their screen habits before they start scrolling endlessly.
Users can also set an app timer through Pause Point before diving in, giving the experience a more intentional feel from the start. And when the timer runs out, it nudges users to take a break from scrolling.
Unlike traditional app timers that can simply be dismissed with a tap, Pause Point is deliberately harder to turn off. Google says the feature requires a full phone restart to disable — a deliberate design choice that makes you think twice before turning it off. Earlier, YouTube also explored the area of taking a break, where users can set a time limit for watching Shorts, and once the limit is reached, a pop-up appears informing them that the Shorts feed has been paused. Although the reminder can still be dismissed.