The purpose of users is to provide data for the websites key stakeholders which are organisations buying data and occasionally advertising space.<p>The design of every major website and platform is to maximise the collection of data. I would say that the designers, developers and other have been remarkably successful in these endeavours.<p>For websites trying to sell goods and services the situation is no better. They have no interest in users other than to sell their products.<p>I cannot remember the last time I visited a website that had any focus on the user and their actual needs and aspirations. As a community of designers and developers I think we have forgotten how to do that.<p>But who can blame the websites. They need to generate profits and users (other than HN readers) are happy to pay with data.<p>I am disappointed when I pay money and still the primary objective of the user experience is data collection but what can I do.
The first example given in the post involves consent banners and I’m surprised they don’t even mention the option to not track users in the first place.<p>Unless your website absolutely needs to fingerprint/track users, it’s better to simply opt for a solution that doesn’t require a consent prompt at all.
Here's a link to the paper they are promoting <a href="https://www.drcf.org.uk/publications/papers/ico-cma-joint-paper-on-harmful-design-in-digital-practices" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.drcf.org.uk/publications/papers/ico-cma-joint-pa...</a>
I hope the people that sold advertisers the need to track people should have a cushy place in hell. Usable cookie banners aren't really enough to be really user friendly.