Ask HN: Why is Reddit on mobile so obsessed with making me use their app?

Post by dheera » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 5:40 PM UTC

sixo wrote: post #331

It is pretty offensive that they say "reddit works better on the app" when the only reason for that is that they broke everything on mobile (on purpose?) in a series of badly-implemented redesigns. I'm never going to install it, and I have all but stopped reading it because these prompts are so obnoxious. That's probably +$ for Reddit though. I don't understand why companies constantly do stuff that serves only _them…

Post by cynoclast » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 5:42 PM UTC

cik2e wrote: post #418

yodon wrote: post #295

As a conversion optimization question, I suspect Reddit would get better conversion on their "do you want the mobile app" banner if they only showed it randomly about 10-15% of the time. By showing it every time, they cause viewers to remember their "why would I want that - I don't" decision from the previous time they saw the question. Reducing the frequency would likely result in more people considering the questio…

I learned from working in marketing is you have to let go of your biases and assumptions about user behavior. In the beginning I found myself constantly thinking "why would anyone in their right mind click on this ad", but we know people click on ads. Most of us in tech are very different from your typical internet user at large. We have to assume that smart people are working at Reddit, that they have tested the liv…

Post by ta1234567890 » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 5:45 PM UTC

Post by vorpalhex » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 5:47 PM UTC

clickok wrote: post #474

sixo wrote: post #331

It is pretty offensive that they say "reddit works better on the app" when the only reason for that is that they broke everything on mobile (on purpose?) in a series of badly-implemented redesigns. I'm never going to install it, and I have all but stopped reading it because these prompts are so obnoxious. That's probably +$ for Reddit though. I don't understand why companies constantly do stuff that serves only _them…

Furthermore, over the long term it can change the texture of the Reddit community. What sort of person quits using Reddit after becoming frustrated with yet another imposed hassle? What sort of person stays, or is retained by pop-up notifications and whatever other tedious blandishments their app/redesign provides? There are other sites with similar features and layout to Reddit (Voat, Ruqqus, Saidit, Raddle, communi…

Post by ericbarrett » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 5:55 PM UTC

vorpalhex wrote: post #497

clickok wrote: post #474

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Furthermore, over the long term it can change the texture of the Reddit community. What sort of person quits using Reddit after becoming frustrated with yet another imposed hassle? What sort of person stays, or is retained by pop-up notifications and whatever other tedious blandishments their app/redesign provides? There are other sites with similar features and layout to Reddit (Voat, Ruqqus, Saidit, Raddle, communi…

Ruqqus is generally better as an alternative and has been doing a better job navigating the line between free speech and not letting neo nazis invade every sub. Like old school reddit, people do say inflammatory things to get reactions but usually get downvoted. There are also good tools for muting people.