European regulations and the elimination of infinite scrolling
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2025 5:28 am
Although Google does not mention it, the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA) may have some bearing on this decision: the DMA aims to ensure fair and open competition in the digital environment. This law sets rules to prevent large digital platforms from abusing their dominant position. The removal of infinite scrolling may be related to several aspects of this law:
Fairness in competition : The DMA seeks to prevent large platforms from using practices that may exclude smaller competitors. Infinite scrolling could be seen as a way to keep users on the platform, reducing the possibility that they will explore alternatives.
Equal access to information : The law promotes that all actors in the digital market have fair and equal access to online visibility. Limiting infinite scrolling can make it easier for users to discover a greater variety of content and services.
But infinite scrolling has also come under fire for its potential to encourage excessive and addictive use of digital platforms. Platforms, such as social media networks or Google in this case, use infinite scrolling as a united states of america number data persuasive design technique to keep users on their sites longer. This can lead to overconsumption of content, similar to how social media works. Infinite scrolling can contribute to digital fatigue, anxiety, and concentration issues. Users can feel overwhelmed by the endless amount of information, which negatively affects their well-being.
In fact, the European Parliament has recently stressed the need for new rules to make digital platforms less addictive . According to a press release from the European Parliament, these rules seek to mitigate the negative effects of persuasive design, including infinite scrolling, which encourages excessive and addictive use of digital platforms:
Restrictions on addictive practices : The legislation proposes restrictions on practices that are specifically designed to capture the user's attention in an addictive manner.
Improving transparency : Require platforms to be clear about how their algorithms and interface design influence user behavior.
Promoting digital wellbeing : Encouraging platforms to implement measures that promote healthier and more conscious use of their services.
Fairness in competition : The DMA seeks to prevent large platforms from using practices that may exclude smaller competitors. Infinite scrolling could be seen as a way to keep users on the platform, reducing the possibility that they will explore alternatives.
Equal access to information : The law promotes that all actors in the digital market have fair and equal access to online visibility. Limiting infinite scrolling can make it easier for users to discover a greater variety of content and services.
But infinite scrolling has also come under fire for its potential to encourage excessive and addictive use of digital platforms. Platforms, such as social media networks or Google in this case, use infinite scrolling as a united states of america number data persuasive design technique to keep users on their sites longer. This can lead to overconsumption of content, similar to how social media works. Infinite scrolling can contribute to digital fatigue, anxiety, and concentration issues. Users can feel overwhelmed by the endless amount of information, which negatively affects their well-being.
In fact, the European Parliament has recently stressed the need for new rules to make digital platforms less addictive . According to a press release from the European Parliament, these rules seek to mitigate the negative effects of persuasive design, including infinite scrolling, which encourages excessive and addictive use of digital platforms:
Restrictions on addictive practices : The legislation proposes restrictions on practices that are specifically designed to capture the user's attention in an addictive manner.
Improving transparency : Require platforms to be clear about how their algorithms and interface design influence user behavior.
Promoting digital wellbeing : Encouraging platforms to implement measures that promote healthier and more conscious use of their services.