The Snapchat score is an example of unethical app design, according to ex-Googler
Product designers grab your attention by playing your psychological vulnerabilities, says former Google design ethicist
Can product designers make decisions that are unethical?
The tech industry has been busily debating that question since former Google design ethicist Tristan Harris posted a fantastic essay on Medium earlier this week.
He writes:
And this is exactly what product designers do to your mind. They play your psychological vulnerabilities (consciously and unconsciously) against you in the race to grab your attention...
Are you upset that technology hijacks your agency?
Simply put, your incentives are different from the tech industry's. It wants to maximise engagement. You want to get the most out of whatever app or software you're using. They're not necessarily the same thing, and usually are not.