HACKER Q&A
📣 valid_username

Forcing your mobile site users to download the app is a good UX choice?


We are already seeing prompts for downloading the app for popular sites like reddit. Today I noticed that Quora has up their game by forcing their users to download the app even though there are already 100s of user giving 1 star rating for this same reason. To what UX are heading and is there no way to avoid such practices?

  👤 latexr Accepted Answer ✓
It’s hard to make the case that forcing something on a user makes for a good experience. But it might make it better for the company. An app can pester you to be used or be opened more by virtue of being on the device. It may also be able to get more of your data (no adblock).

Think of those websites that nag you to subscribe to their newsletter on your first visit. It’s unlikely you have ever seen anyone say they like that practice, yet it continues presumably because it works. Or think of how movie studios keep pumping out terrible sequels while making more money[1].

Forcing users to download an app is not a good user experience, but it’s not trying to be: it’s trying to be a good business decision.

[1]: https://youtu.be/OYirwDFKEX0