Stef WalterMay 14, 2024

Let’s talk about dark mode and accessibility! There’s a myth that dark mode is good for accessibility, because it improves text readability. It's not always true.

The full article and resources on my blog: https://stephaniewalter.design/blog/dark-mode-accessibility-myth-debunked/

#Accessibility #DarkMode #Astigmatism

Show threadMichael Porter
@stephaniewalter I don’t have any pronounced vision problems, aside from aging eyes, but I’ve always found white text on a dark background significantly harder to read than the reverse.
May 14, 2024 at 4:20pmWeb
Show threadStef WalterMay 14, 2024
@MichaelPorter I think it really depends on the people. Strangely I heard it depends on site and context too. I know devs with astigmatism who can't read a blog post in dark mode but have their coding tools in dark mode. So yeah, choice, customization sounds like the right approach
Show threadMichael PorterMay 14, 2024

@stephaniewalter Big yes to being able to customize things–Do some A/B testing and find what works for you!

My theory was that having a brighter background made your pupils constrict, giving a deeper field of view and ease of focus. Darker backgrounds and the lower light levels make your pupils dilate, making focussing more challenging. That *should* be true for everyone, so I was always perplexed by people who claimed they found white text on a black background easier to read. I’m missing something, clearly.