Previously in December 2019: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21780092
https://old.reddit.com/r/mobileweb/comments/e7yivg/join_redd...
"This community is available in the app"
31–40 of 234 posts
Re: "This community is available in the app"
#32Reddit has been a/b testing behavior like this for months. Multiple different popups with variations on "view this in the app"; in some cases the popup is on every single page load, sometimes only once. They started blurring images on select subreddits with a message that you could only view the sub in their app. Okay, I know they're chasing one of two things here: a higher level of revenue from the advertising they…
Re: "This community is available in the app"
#33What’s the benefit of making users install the app versus just using the web?
Better control over ads and data. Technically also better for users since it's faster and more reliable than a website but being forced into it sucks.
"better for users" if you ignore all of the other aspects than speed and reliability. Users have far less control over third-party tracking in an app than they do in a web browser.
Re: "This community is available in the app"
#34The best way to avoid this nonsense is to use an app: but a third-party one, not Reddit's junk. A lot of people swear by rif, aka/fka reddit is fun.
Re: "This community is available in the app"
#35This is why I started developing an alternative to Reddit a few years ago. It was clear from their leadership that they would continue to move towards satisfying their newly acquired VCs (for example Tencent), and do so by selling out their users in every way possible. Platforms like Reddit do not care about giving their users the best possible experience, and that is no longer the basis of the decisions they make.
The only way for a discussion platform to stay true to its users is if it does not rely on revenue from other sources.
I wrote a blog post about this a few days back (shameless plug): https://www.plebia.io/blogs/site/uDIkCFPp2b8+Online-Discussi...
Re: "This community is available in the app"
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
Reddit is one of a few websites that I feel dedicated app works much better than browser, but I use 3rd party one(s).
Is there any app that can essentially open threads in a new tab like in a browser? This is the one thing keeping me in the mobile browser. Well, that and my girlfriends reddit app seems to fail to load GIFs a decent fraction of the time.
I'm not sure what you mean. So you can switch back and forth between threads with ease?
Re: "This community is available in the app"
#37Whenever Reddit, or any other website, tells me to install their app, I make sure that I never install their app. In fact other than maybe 5 or less apps, I only use a browser.
Reddit is one of a few websites that I feel dedicated app works much better than browser, but I use 3rd party one(s).
I don't agree, for one b/c Reddit is a links aggregator and opening links works best in a full browser instead of a shitty in-app web view, plus it's the little things like ability to copy/paste or go back to a previous page, that are sometimes emulated in native apps, but never work well.
But even if you think Reddit works better in a native app for you, that's by design. Reddit is making the web experience shitty on purpose, to drive users to their app.
Re: "This community is available in the app"
#38Whenever Reddit, or any other website, tells me to install their app, I make sure that I never install their app. In fact other than maybe 5 or less apps, I only use a browser.
The problem is that you and I are in the minority on this.
Most people install the app, and all the tracking and data collection and geolocation that comes with it. Soon, almost all mass media will be consumed this way. This is just the latest installment of the mounting assault on the free and open web.
Mark my words: the web is in danger.
Re: "This community is available in the app"
#39Re: "This community is available in the app"
#40What’s the benefit of making users install the app versus just using the web?
- you can track them more thoroughly - you can "please" them with push notifications - you can save bandwidth by putting static assets / the framework in the app and only load content
Geolocation. BLE beacon reception. Detection of other apps installed.