Why Infinite Scroll is Bad Software Design and Unethical

endless scrolling pixel art character

In the swiftly evolving landscape of software design, a significant focus is placed on ensuring the optimal user experience. One particularly notable design implementation is the infinite scroll, which, despite its widespread use, has been unveiled to have negative cognitive effects.

Who would of thought designing an app to constantly draw and siphon off your attention would be bad for your brain?🤯 I didn’t!

In this article, we breakdown the endless scroll and how it raises questions about ethical software development in 2024 furthermore, explaining why it should be a priority going forward.

When Inventions Go Wrong

The premise is quite simple: disappointment sets in as it appears all the posts for today have been exhausted. I long for more posts akin to the one I just encountered.

App design flirted with the concept of providing users with an endless stream of content. The idea was to boost user engagement, create additional advertising opportunities, and ultimately benefit both the user and the company, right? Contrary to expectations, it not only failed to be a net positive, especially for the end user, but also proved to be detrimental to societal mental capacity.

The creator of the first implementation of the infinite scroll came out years ago publicly admitting his failures on that note.

Aza Razkin – The Apparent Creator of Infinite Scroll

How it Works and Why it Ultimately Doesn’t!

Infinite scroll is like an endless conveyor belt of content on a webpage. As you scroll down, new items are loaded automatically, keeping the page going without needing you to click on a “Next” button. Behind the scenes, the software fetches more content from the server as you scroll, making it feel like an infinite flow of information.

Endless Scroll Diagram — Eyerys

There are several brands and companies using this to grab your attention for a few mins longer than needed. That includes social media platforms like TikTok or Instagram but also media outlets like the BBC or The New York Times.

TikTok Interface

That is just to name a few. The feature is everywhere and not going anywhere anytime soon!

Some of issues this feature is causing include:

• Loss of Control and Orientation: Users struggle to maintain a sense of control and orientation, losing track of their progress and the extent of content viewed.

• Increased Cognitive Load and Distraction: The infinite scroll elevates users’ cognitive load, diverting them from their initial goal by bombarding them with potentially irrelevant or unimportant information.

• Diminished Memory and Attention Span: User memory and attention span decline, especially during multitasking or app-switching, resulting in reduced processing and retention of information.

• Formation of Mindless Scrolling Habit: The endless scroll cultivates a habit of mindless scrolling, diminishing user engagement and satisfaction. Users are less likely to find what they seek and experience a sense of completion.

Some of these effects are covered in an article exploring the effects of short-form content on the brain so check it out for further reading👍🏽

Ethical Software Development Should be a Priority

As software and tech becomes a bigger part of our lives, software developers need to consider the bigger picture when thinking of new ways to connect with users.

That is one of the main reasons the field of ‘ethical’ software development has grown so much in recent years. The field emphasizes the need for transparency especially when it comes to privacy and data usage.

Many aspiring developers look to these apps for inspiration but they forget to think about why implementing features like the infinite scroll might not be beneficial in the first place.

Tunnel vision in research and development is common so it definitely isn’t malice but it could be rather just oversight. Severe oversight at that!

Such considerations are big part of our ethos here at Asycd evidenced our continued interest in psychology of software.

Thanks For Reading

Thanks for reading this short breakdown about the issues with infinite scroll and its undesired impact on the human psyche.