Unending Scroll: The Digital One-Armed Bandit
Remember when everyone used to click on websites to see more content? Well, now we're all just scrolling through our favorite social media apps like Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Medium. It seems like every website is using this infinite scroll feature. But why do so many companies use it? What makes scrolling so popular?
You had to keep clicking back then to see more stuff on a website. Designers were told not to put important info below what you could see on the screen. Then, when everyone started using phones and tablets, swiping became popular. But now, things are different. Designers are ditching the clicking and swiping and just letting you scroll down the page. Why? Because it's easier and it works better.
The Infinite Exploration
Have you ever noticed that when you're scrolling through social media or a website, you just can't stop? That's because the infinite scroll feature was designed to keep you hooked! It's like a never-ending stream of new stuff to look at. The reason why it's become so popular is because it's better at handling constantly changing content, like new comments or posts. But to understand why the scroll is so addicting, we need to take a quick look at how our brains work. Let's dive in!
Throughout history, our brains have become super good at guessing what's going to happen next. This helps us figure out what to do in different situations. Our ancestors were able to survive and have babies because they were good at making smart choices based on what they thought would happen in the future. This helped them pass on their genes to the next generation.
Our brains are like super smart detectives that use past experiences to figure out what's going to happen next. It's kind of like when you watch a movie and can guess the ending because you've seen similar movies before. Learning is just training our brains to connect the dots and understand why things happen the way they do.
You probably thought I was going to say "effect," right? I bet you did! That's because our brains are used to hearing the words "cause" and "effect" together all the time.
Our brains are like super smart computers that help us process a ton of information quickly. They store patterns and habits so we can focus on learning new stuff without getting overwhelmed. It's like having a built-in cheat code for our brains!
There's something about not knowing what's going to happen next that keeps us hooked. Whether it's a close game, a roll of the dice, or a movie with a twist ending, our brains love the thrill of trying to guess what will happen. It's like when you're playing a game and you're waiting to see if you'll win or lose - that feeling of excitement is all thanks to our brains releasing dopamine. It's the same feeling you get when you keep scrolling through social media, never knowing what interesting post will pop up next. It's like playing a slot machine that keeps you coming back for more!
Did you know that our brains are wired to seek out pleasure and avoid pain? When we want something badly, like a new video game or a piece of candy, our brains release a chemical called dopamine that makes us feel excited and motivated. But once we get what we want, those dopamine levels drop back down. It's like a rollercoaster of emotions! This cycle of wanting, getting, and feeling satisfied is what keeps us going and makes life exciting. It's kind of like a never-ending game of hide and seek with our brains!
The Fun won't Stop
The infinite scroll is like a never-ending adventure that keeps you scrolling and scrolling to see what comes next. It's like when you can't stop eating your favorite snacks, like cookies and ice cream. And when you pair the infinite scroll with the masonry grid layout, it's like a match made in design heaven. This layout, made popular by Pinterest, makes your eyes jump around the screen, making you slow down and take in all the cool images. Cliff Kuang, who writes for Co.Design, said it best, "The Pinterest-style grid makes you zig-zag through content, making you scroll slower but showing you more pictures at once."
Have you ever noticed how when you go on Pinterest, you just can't stop scrolling? It's like a never-ending stream of cool stuff that keeps you hooked. The layout of the website is designed to make you want to keep looking at more and more pictures. It's like opening a can of Pringles - once you start, you can't stop! Give it a try and see for yourself.
Round Trip from Mobile
The never-ending scroll feature has been a big help for both phone apps and websites because designers can now make sure that both versions of their products look and work the same. When people get used to using a certain product, they start to expect things to work a certain way. This is where good design can give a company an edge over its competition. Even if a different product does the same thing, people might not like it as much because it just doesn't feel right to them.
Lately, it seems like mobile phones are calling the shots when it comes to how websites look on big computer screens. Designers are making websites look good on phones first, then adapting them for computers. This makes sense because more and more people are using their phones to go online. It's not always the best solution, but mobile-friendly designs are good at fitting lots of stuff on a small screen, loading things quickly, and keeping us hooked. So get ready to scroll a lot more!
