Post ASWFyIY34Udxruq1Z2 by earth_walker@mindly.social
(DIR) More posts by earth_walker@mindly.social
(DIR) Post #ASWFyHuLS6stsmGJg8 by earth_walker@mindly.social
2023-02-09T21:05:01Z
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One thing I see all the time in the #UXDesign of apps is to make things as frictionless as possible. When using apps, the user has to do this and that and go here and there to get what they want. App designers are working towards a situation where the user's desires are gratified before they even know what they want. I want to push back on this design philosophy, let's call it FIG (Frictionless Instant Gratification) because I think it's a terrible trend, for several reasons.🧵
(DIR) Post #ASWFyIY34Udxruq1Z2 by earth_walker@mindly.social
2023-02-09T21:06:49Z
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It is not bad design to ask the user to provide input to tailor their experience. It is not bad design to present the user with things that require patience to appreciate. It is not bad design to ask the user to decide what they want for themselves.🧵
(DIR) Post #ASWFyJ17KPtbK4REsC by antsu@nozomi.best
2023-02-10T00:11:19Z
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@earth_walker If we extrapolate what you described to not just apps but technology in general, it is what I've seen referred to in the past as "Apple-fication" of tech.
(DIR) Post #ASWFyJ8Ysjqnh9vBTc by earth_walker@mindly.social
2023-02-09T21:06:00Z
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As an example, consider two apps that present the user with an endless feed of images. App A presents the feed without any input, showing the most eye-catching images on the platform. It then observes what images the user spend more time looking at, "likes", comments on, saves and shares, and tunes the feed with that information.🧵
(DIR) Post #ASWFyJS3iFRkfd2kro by earth_walker@mindly.social
2023-02-09T21:06:28Z
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Meanwhile, on App B, some users may find the content boring and leave soon after joining. Users may also find that it is too much work to curate their feed, and leave because of that. For those who stay, the door is now open to find or produce any kind of content, as long as someone is interested in it. It is up to the user to decide what they are interested in, based on their interests outside of the app.🧵
(DIR) Post #ASWFyK4hOaM4bT7c5w by earth_walker@mindly.social
2023-02-09T21:06:20Z
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FIG dictates that the first approach is better because it will be more engaging from the jump and keep users engaged. The consequence is that the app will now steer users toward whatever content is most engaging, regardless of whether it is something the user is interested in, wants to participate in or learn about. This also shapes new content, as it will only succeed if it fits the pattern dictated by the content selection algorithm.🧵
(DIR) Post #ASWFyK53NGdecZHteC by earth_walker@mindly.social
2023-02-09T21:06:09Z
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App B asks the user what they are interested in, and then populates the feed with all images posted to the platform that are labelled with those hashtags, in chronological order. The hashtags used in the feed won't change unless the user changes them.🧵
(DIR) Post #ASWFyKjovhFSf0MSBs by earth_walker@mindly.social
2023-02-09T21:06:39Z
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Furthermore, App A is designed to keep users on the app at any cost, whereas App B leaves it up to the user how they want to spend their time. This another way that FIG disempowers the user.🧵