- cross-posted to:
- asklemmy@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- asklemmy@lemmy.world
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The primary purpose of those buttons is of course to let those sites track everyone’s browsing activity across every site that uses them, which does not require that anyone ever click on them.
Even if less than 0.0001% of people click them, anyone with an SEO/spammer “grindset” will assure site operators that the potential benefit of someone sharing a link they otherwise wouldn’t have is still at least theoretically non-zero. And, since there is absolutely no cost at all besides an acceptable number of extra milliseconds per pageload, really, it would be downright irresponsible not to have them there!
The cost to have them is basically zero. The benefit that they can provide for visibility and clicks is non-zero. So, with a positive ROI, why not have them?
Still? Ive never clicked one in my life.
I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who used one of those before.
Harvest those email addresses.
In my industry experience (have worked for web design firms, and currently work on a public app), designers just mimic what everyone else does and just put fluff all over the place to make it conform.
Very few actually focus on true user experience.
Those buttons have a place on a contact us page, but other than that they are filler
I think it depends what the button function is - if it’s to go to the social channel of the business whose website you’re on, I agree the Contact Us page is the place for them.
However I think OP is talking about the type that is intended to share the current webpage onto the user’s own socials. That wouldn’t fit on Contact Us, except to share the contact us page :-)
Agreed about designers doing what everyone else does, but I’d add to that, that it may be client-driven - a lot of clients I’ve worked with see these things on other sites and so assume that they need them too. Even if the designer wanted to remove them, the client would likely insist 😁
As a ux designer I can confirm this. Actual usability studies and accessible design? Nah. Not when management makes the calls.
That must feel soul sucking to build :(
As long as the check clears.
Welcome to IT. Spend a decade or more learning and specialising your craft. Be out managed by a junior product manager. 🫠
I just turn off my brain and copy and paste the templates. The world is run by little Elons who think that because they’re an exec, that they know best.
Going to school and learning and being skilled is a scam. I’m telling my kids to learn to farm if I have any.
Ugh it’s like that in every undustry. In mine it’s like most directors know what actually should be done. But then they just get constantly overruled by the VPs and Ps.
Tracking
This is the answer. Look up the Facebook Pixel and Like Button. Putting them on a site lets Meta track your activity across the web, even when you’re logged out or don’t have an account. I’m sure Twitter, Reddit, et al. are doing the same by now.
Im pretty sure a lot of these tracking widgets are invisible/zero size/offscreen too, so its not just a ‘click here to share’ button but purely a User_ID36ax48dd99y42s52l840a2648 visited this site at 15:37:23 on 20250405 and looked at X.
