Google has introduced a new feature designed to help users avoid doomscrolling, along with various other updates and products.

The new tool, called “Pause Point”, aims to encourage individuals to consider whether they truly wish to access their apps.

It achieves this by allowing users to select specific applications that will display a 10-second delay before they actually open. This delay is meant to give users the chance to reflect on the question, “Why am I here?”, according to Google.

“During that pause, you can engage in a brief breathing exercise or set a timer to prevent excessive scrolling,” the company stated. “You can also view some cherished photos or explore alternative app suggestions, such as an audiobook.”

Google pointed out that features like app timers and complete lockouts from apps are not always feasible. “At times, you require a solution that promotes app usage with clear intent,” Google explained.

Users have the option to enable this feature on selected apps. However, disabling it will not be straightforward: users will need to restart their devices to turn it off, a measure Google believes will encourage individuals to “stop and think before disabling” it.

This announcement coincided with a series of new updates from Google. The most significant of these was an update to the Chromebook, now referred to as Googlebook.

This new laptop is envisioned as a “rethink” of what a laptop can be and is centered around Gemini, its suite of artificial intelligence tools.

“More than 15 years ago, we launched the Chromebook, a laptop designed for a cloud-first environment,” Google remarked. “Now, as we transition from an operating system to an intelligence system, we recognize an opportunity to rethink laptops once more.”