MC1088170 – Microsoft SharePoint: Estimated read time for News posts (archived)

Product:

Microsoft Viva, Microsoft Viva Connections, SharePoint, Teams

Platform:

Android, iOS, Online, Teams And Surface Devices, US Instances, Web, Windows Desktop, World tenant

Status:

Launched

Change type:

Feature update, User impact, Admin impact

Links:

491024

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft SharePoint will add an estimated read time to News posts, starting rollout in June 2025. This feature will be available on the web and Microsoft Viva Connections app in Teams. It will be on by default, with an option for authors to toggle it on or off. No admin action is required.

Details:
We will add an estimated read time to Microsoft SharePoint News posts to help users better manage their time and engagement.
This message applies to SharePoint News on the web and the Microsoft Viva Connections app in Microsoft Teams for Windows desktop, Teams for the web, and Teams for Android and iOS.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 491024.
[When this will happen:]
Targeted Release: We will begin rolling out early June 2025 and expect to complete by mid-June 2025.
General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, and DoD): We will begin rolling out mid-June 2025 and expect to complete by late June 2025.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability, Targeted Release

Created:
2025-06-05

updated:
2025-06-05

Task Type

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Docu to Check

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MS How does it affect me

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MS Preperations

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MS Urgency

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linked item details

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Pictures

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

User Engagement
The introduction of estimated read times may lead to increased user engagement as users can better manage their time when consuming content. However, if users are not informed about this change, they may be confused by the new feature, leading to frustration and decreased engagement.
   - roles: Content Authors, End Users
   - references: https://support.microsoft.com/office/create-and-share-news-on-your-sharepoint-sites-495f8f1a-3bef-4045-b33a-55e5abe7aed7, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=491024

Content Management
Authors may inadvertently toggle off the estimated read time feature, leading to inconsistency in content presentation. This could confuse users who expect to see read times for all news posts, impacting their experience and trust in the content.
   - roles: Content Authors, Site Administrators
   - references: https://support.microsoft.com/office/create-and-share-news-on-your-sharepoint-sites-495f8f1a-3bef-4045-b33a-55e5abe7aed7, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=491024

Configutation Options**

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explanation for non-techies**

Microsoft SharePoint is introducing a new feature that will display an estimated read time for News posts. This change is set to roll out in June 2025 and will be available on both the web and the Microsoft Viva Connections app within Microsoft Teams. The idea behind this feature is to help users manage their time better by giving them an idea of how long it will take to read a particular news article.

Think of it like when you pick up a book and see the number of pages or when you watch a video and see the duration. This information helps you decide if you have enough time to read or watch it right now or if you should save it for later. Similarly, the estimated read time on SharePoint News posts will allow users to quickly assess whether they can fit reading the article into their current schedule.

This feature will be turned on by default, meaning that once it's rolled out, users will automatically see the estimated read time on news posts. However, authors have the flexibility to turn this feature off if they choose. They can do this in the settings panel of the banner web part, which is where the estimated read time will be displayed.

For organizations, this update will happen automatically, and no administrative action is required to enable it. However, it might be a good idea to inform your team about this new feature and update any relevant documentation to reflect this change. This way, everyone is aware of the new functionality and can make the most of it.

In summary, the estimated read time feature in SharePoint is designed to enhance user experience by providing a quick snapshot of how long a news article might take to read, helping users plan their time more effectively.