I don’t don’t think this is useful at all, if it only results in a next button occasionally popping up.
Comment on The EU moves to kill infinite scrolling
TehPers@beehaw.org 2 days ago
Doesn’t look like this extends beyond TikTok, or at least mainstream social media as a whole.
Infinite scroll itself isn’t really a problem. It’s just one of the many tools used to keep users engaged on these platforms specifically by removing an interruption from the experience, but isn’t sufficient on its own to create that unhealthy behavior. It’s also used in healthier ways, like search results, chat logs, and so on.
The EU attempting to rein in these platforms’ control over its users will be interesting to watch. There are decades of research these companies have done on user psychology to maximize their capture of the user’s attention. Forcing them not to use all the tools they developed might result in people breaking out of the cycle of endlessly scrolling. Or it might just annoy users. I don’t know which will happen.
Sina@beehaw.org 2 days ago
wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 1 day ago
It provides a natural stopping point, which as another user explained requires a conscious effort to continue rather than infinite scrolling which requires a conscious effort to stop.
It doesn’t sound like much, but it can be those little things that make the difference. A little bit less on one side of the scale, and a little bit more on another.
I know I find myself scrolling for way longer than I intended, and when I look back and realize how much I scrolled it always seems to surprise me. Sometimes I tell myself I’m about to stop, but I just keep going. I see another headline at the bottom of the screen and have to click on it. After that I see another one below it, etc. Sometimes I have to scroll so the screen ends on one post, and I won’t let it show the one below it, cause otherwise I might never stop.
People whose minds are already wired for addiction can struggle with this. Just like with beer. “One felt good, so twelve must feel twelve times as good.” It’s a subconscious process, but it can feel like a vortex and be really hard to escape.
Pagination would take away that “mindless” aspect, and for instance I could see when I reach page 10 or whatever and decide that’s far enough. Or I could hop on and just scroll one page. Or I could scroll a few pages and then say “Okay at the bottom of this page I’m stopping.” It’s much easier that way for people who struggle with it.
circuitsunfish@plesiosaur.net 2 hours ago
@wonderingwanderer @Sina yes, I liked things more when pagination was the default, for the same reason. I turn pagination back on where it's an option and use mods to re introduce where it is not. Portion control is very important for enjoying all things. I love ice cream but I would be very ill with an infinitely refilling bowl. A set amount suits me much better.
wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 2 hours ago
I love ice cream but I would be very ill with an infinitely refilling bowl.
That’s a really good analogy
Zoop@beehaw.org 1 day ago
You totally nailed it! This is a great and thoughtful comment, and I appreciate the effort you put into it to help educate others. :)
corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 1 day ago
It’s also used in healthier ways, like search results, chat logs, and so on.
That’s an excellent point. Viewing a log file over the web, particularly when it’s still growing, absolutely needs infinite scrolling. The Old Way is UX poison.
Is RedHat the company in on this? Is it because they can’t figure out how to scroll text well in their AAP/Tower/whatever platform and are annoyed with people chanting YOU HAD ONE JOB at them? (no need to look it up – that entire Tower product and the tech behind it would be hot garbage 20 years ago and is hot garbage now, so I’m just dunking on them)
MagicShel@lemmy.zip 2 days ago
I think the thought is, it’s not a bad thing if you get annoyed after scrolling through 100 of something and having to click next. It’s like that lady that comes up on TikTok and says why the fuck are you still scrolling? Touch grass, maybe.
I basically agree with you. You can’t really ban dark patterns even though we all agree they suck. Legislature is the worst group of people to design UX.
TehPers@beehaw.org 2 days ago
I think the point I was getting at was that a lot of things dark patterns do are individually things that have the potential for good or bad. Infinite scroll is one example. There’s also modals, sale banners, and so on.
What makes a dark pattern dark isn’t the specific, individual tools at use. It’s the sum of those, plus the intent.