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.