CiaraDec 10, 2023
We need a word for real-life enshittification caused by online culture. Like being unable to find an organisation’s info because they’ve Instagram but no website. Or panicked people being sent a videolink to download to their phone when they ring for an ambulance. Or being excluded from residents' association news if you're not on Facebook. Or having cash payment refused. Or staff in the business you’re physically standing in telling you to find the answer to your question on their website.
Show threadHeatherDec 10, 2023
@CiaraNi Design Museum in London makes you have to have a phone for them to email the tickets to then you need to have your phone out of dark mode for them to scan the tickets.
You're. A. Design. Museum. Why do you not understand this design is horrific?
Show threadLauren WeinsteinDec 10, 2023
@Akki @CiaraNi Clearly the design is not good, but I'll mention in passing that dark mode is problematic for scanning in a variety of circumstances. I'll add that for many people with common eye issues dark mode is MUCH less readable than white mode, and sites that do not permit white mode are causing them many problems.
Show threadHeatherDec 10, 2023
@lauren @CiaraNi Oh this topic has come up on mastodon before, the minor amount of research out there has a roughly 50/50 split on if dark or light is better - it's totally down to personal preference. Poor UI on websites isn't new for accessibility or readability though, not limited to light/dark mode.
Show threadLauren WeinsteinDec 10, 2023
@Akki @CiaraNi Dark mode is a focus nightmare for many people with common astigmatism. That's a fact. Ask me how I know.
Show threadHeatherDec 10, 2023
@lauren @CiaraNi I have terrible astigmatism and I prefer dark mode. It's less strain on my eyes.
Show threadLauren WeinsteinDec 10, 2023
@Akki @CiaraNi I can hardly focus in dark mode at all. This appears to be the statistical norm, or closer to it: https://medium.com/@h_locke/why-dark-mode-causes-more-accessibility-issues-than-it-solves-d2f8359bb46a
Why ‘dark mode’ causes more accessibility issues than it solves

Dark mode. Isn’t it marvellous? All cool and trendy and accessible and sustainable. It even helps offset the damage you’re doing to your circadian rhythms by checking your phone before you turn out…

Medium
Show threadHeather
@lauren @CiaraNi it's funny because as I was forced to read the first half of that article in light mode, it was giving me the halo effect it says people get in dark mode. Can't be arsed to sign up to read the whole thing but I'm sure I have read it before which is what sparked off another debate somewhere on mastodon where we concluded it's down to individual need/preference. Which is fine. Make it optional for everyone. Accessibility needs options. No one should be forced into a box.
Dec 10, 2023 at 10:32pmWeb
Show threadLauren WeinsteinDec 10, 2023
@Akki @CiaraNi The hilarious part is people who insist that by using dark mode they're saving their battery by using less power -- when they're using LCD displays. Which of course, is not the case for LCD displays!