Technically Wrong: Sexist Apps, Biased Algorithms, and Other Threats of Toxic Tech

by Sara Wachter-Boettcher

You know when you try to shop online or read an article, but a little window pops up before you can even see what you’re looking at, trying to get you to sign up for the site’s email list? I’m sure you do, because you can barely use the internet without this happening. In tech, we call these kinds of pop-ups opt-ins, meaning you’re being asked to choose to receive marketing messages from a company. If you click the “no thanks” option, that’s an opt-out. But not only is the design intrusive and frustrating—Can I at least see your products before being badgered into daily emails?—there’s a new design trend that’s making them even worse: rather than tapping a button that says “no thanks,” sites are now making users click condescending, passive-aggressive statements to get the intrusive window to close: No thanks, I hate saving money. No thanks, this deal is just too good for me. I’m not interested in being awesome. I’d rather stay uninformed.

Huge disconnect between company design & what users want. Just because something is status quo doesn't mean it's effective.