Facebook: Usable, Accessible, and Dark.
According to Oberlo, seven out of ten adults in the U.S. claim to use Facebook. So, it's no surprise that this social media heavyweight reaches about 61% of internet users. The fact that over 17 years, Facebook continues to grow and remain relevant must mean that Facebook is doing something right. Specifically, they are doing something right when it comes to usability and accessibility.
Usability refers to how user-friendly a product is. In this case, how user-friendly Facebook’s UI is. There are five main components that go into deeming a product or digital service usable. They are learnability, efficiency, memorability, errors, and satisfaction. Let’s break some of these factors down into examples.
Learnability
Visibility and Feedback- Facebook gives users visual feedback to show where users are on their digital platform. For example, when a user is on the homepage, the home icon is filled in blue and underlined. Facebook also gives its users visual feedback when they have completed an action. When reacting to a post you can click and hold (or hover on desktop) to view emoji options and then once an emoji is chosen, a heart, for example, the icon changes from a grayed out “like” button to a red filled heart.
Mapping Functions- When endlessly scrolling, Facebook uses a side-bar that slides with how the user is scrolling. If a user scrolls down, the side-bar slides down with the user and vice versa.
Affordances- Facebook uses an array of affordances to relay how properties of an object can be used. To add a post, there is a grayed-out text input field with a prompted text asking “What’s on your mind?”. The inner shadows within the text input field let me, the user, know that I can click within that box and write a post. After I am finished typing up what food I am daydreaming about, the “Post” button turns a bold blue and a drop shadow effect is added letting me know that I can interact with that button to submit my post.
Constraints- To keep with the same example above, I the user, cannot post *nothing*. If no text was added text input field, the “Post” button remains grayed out and unclickable.
Help and Documentation- Facebook has a “Help and Support” section which gives the users access to the help center where popular FAQs can be found. Additionally, the section allows users to report a problem.
Memorability
Good design limits the users’ memory load. Facebook limits its users’ memory load by using predictive text within the search box. Furthermore, any recent search history will pop up once the user clicks within the search box. So, if you are constantly stalking your ex… Facebook knows and will aid in your conquest.
Another example is when using Facebook Marketplace, there is a section titled “Top Picks For You” based on users’ recent search history. Constantly reminding me that I have been on the hunt for a six-drawer dresser.
Satisfaction
With 1.73 billion daily users, it can be assumed that Facebook is exceeding the needs, expectations, and wants of its users. Not only is Facebook a leader in social media giving users the ability to globally connect but they now offer their users different feeds. A video feed full of relevant videos based on user interest, a digital market to sell services and products, and a feed dedicated to gaming. Facebook’s ability to adapt, evolve, and offer delightful content might be because Facebook gives users an opportunity to give feedback which gives them insights on how to improve their site.
Inclusion and Accessibility
In their navigation drop-down menu, there lies a section labeled “Display and Accessibility”. Here users can activate dark mode to “…reduce glare and give your eyes a break”. Even when dark mode is activated, Facebook uses high contrast to help differentiate elements and content which betters the experience for those who are visually impaired. They also let the user activate one character keyboard shortcuts which better functionality and usability with those who have motor impairments. And as of last year, they created a newer UI format that spaces out content and elements to account for user error. This also betters the experience for those with fine motor impairments.
Dark Patterns
As the name suggests, dark patterns are deceptive UX/UI pattern interactions. We have all encountered dark problems-like that free trial that became not so free unbeknowingstly until you checked your bank account statement. So what about Facebook?
I felt the need to deactivate my Facebook account about a month ago and activated it today for the sake of this assignment. I could enter into a generic boomer parent rant on why I decided to deactivate my account but instead, I will just give just one example of a dark pattern used by Facebook.
Did you know that you cannot uninstall Facebook from your phone? At least I could not on mine. I was only given the option to disable it. Which let me, the user, feeling not in control of the content I have on my phone.
Then when I went to deactivate my account, the process so difficult I had to literally watch a Youtube to figure out how. And they continue to change the way to go about deactivating and deleting your account too. Seemingly in hopes, that if they make the process convoluted and difficult, that it will be too much of a hassle and users will decide against leaving Facebook.
However, when I went to reactivate my account, I had no issues. My desktop still had my login information saved and when I pressed the “Log In” button there was no screen prompt asking me “are you sure you want to reactivate?”. I simply logged in as if I had never deactivated in the first place. But in the deactivation process-I was prompted with a “Are you sure?” screen as well as a screen asking for my “reason for leaving”. After choosing my said reason, I was then given another popup screen trying to dissuade me from deactivating my account.
Maybe that is why Facebook is the leading social media site- because they make it nearly impossible for users to leave the platform. This is just one dark pattern I have encountered with Facebook and that is not to mention the privacy issues with them collecting personal information, an algorithm that benefits company marketing schemes, and the insane amount of notifications that is difficult for the user to control.
Summary
Facebook remains the heavyweight champion of social media due to its usability. Constantly evolving with the times, Facebook stays easily adaptable and learnable. They manage to stay consistent and relevant amongst users and though there may be dark patterns- it is obvious that Facebook is dedicated to growing and maintaining their users and their engagement.
