Is the Dark Mode feature right for you?

The article “Dark mode is everywhere. Is it really better for you?” by Lily Smith, https://www.fastcompany.com/90421232 speaks about how many websites have converted to have a dark mode instead of the normal black on white text. Although it is very popular, it may not be as good for legibility due to some problems people who have a hard time seeing could endure. So, as she is talking about the dark mode, she states that a study in 2017 found that “dark characters on light background can lead to better legibility and are strongly recommended depending on the viewers age.” In this case, age could have a great impact on the views of the dark mode because an older person may not like it due to complications with their eyesight whereas a younger person probably would.

As Smith continues to talk about the dark mode feature, she includes how mainstream social media has incorporated it. For example, in the past years many electronic users have been introduced to the dark mode within app and phone updates. Dark mode options have been introduced on MacOS, Apple iOS, and Android, as well as across apps and platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and the Gmail app. Now in response to dark mode options being available on different platforms, Smith states that her friends have seen the dark mode to be helpful because it seems to be easier on the eyes when looking at the phone at night. In addition, it is also said that dark mode saves battery percentages since the screen is less harsh than the normal white screen.

Furthermore, Smith goes on to give insight on where the dark mode can be useful. It can be useful, according to Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines, by allowing the “content within a website or app to stand out while the surrounding UI recedes into the background.” This can cause the UI to minimize any non-relevant textual material that may not be useful to the reader. Due to this reason, dark mode options could help readers get encouraged in order to quickly scan stats and focus on key data points, such as stocks, charts, or graphs. To sum it up, the dark mode is a greatly used trend however it has its disadvantages so if it is your preference then you should go with it but if not then you should stick with the original black on white look.