Hated those tiny app buttons until I tried using my phone at a grocery store self-checkout

I was at a Meijer in Detroit last Friday trying to scan my own stuff and this app for their rewards kept putting a tiny 'skip' button right where my thumb naturally rests. After I accidentally dismissed the coupon screen 4 times in a row, some older guy behind me goes 'that app is just trying to trick you.' Totally clicked for me why those tiny touch targets exist - not for looks, but to mess with your flow on purpose. Anyone else notice apps getting worse about where they put buttons during checkout?

2 comments

2 Comments

veraramirez7d ago

Honestly, didn't someone do a study on this? I swear I read something about how apps purposely put buttons in spots where you're most likely to accidentally hit them. Tbh, it makes total sense from a business angle, they want you to see their ads or sign up for stuff, not quickly skip through. Ngl, I've noticed it everywhere, not just grocery stores. Even my weather app puts the 'close ad' button in a spot where my thumb naturally goes when I hold my phone. It feels like a dirty trick once you realize it's intentional.

diana_bell747d ago

My sister got so mad at her banking app she accidentally tapped "apply for credit card" three times in one week. Now she holds her phone like it's a grenade when she checks her balance.