Want to play? Simply press a button, any button below. Tempted?

What will influence your decision? Or will you just play it safe and not press any?

Why do we love pushing buttons?

Historically, buttons were, of course, new technologies. It’s amazing to consider that ‘back in the day’, we had to learn how to use buttons, but there was no stopping us once we did.

If we unpack the functionality behind the button, of course, we reveal that there’s always a motivation— an action, a call to action on the World Wide Web… that has an outcome. When the function is clear, it’s like turning a light on or closing the elevator door. We’re in control, and we like being in control. We see the effect of our actions. This basic functionality is clear and predictable (most of the time).

ACTION = REWARD

However, this changes somewhat when surfing the web or your favourite app.

The button can take us on a journey… especially if that button incentivises the user with a promise of showing you something exciting or valuable. Whether supporting your friend’s endeavours or applying a discount code, we are sometimes far too quick to get involved; hit that button and read the small print/dodgy URL.

Herein lies the trick of those naughty phishing hackers who often wreak havoc with social platforms and fill our inboxes with spam. (My friend’s Instagram account was hacked recently, which is the catalyst for this post.) So clearly, we are all vulnerable to our judgment, or lack of it, in the throes of an un-caffeinated early morning.

So, I devised my little experiment here for you to try. Did you try?

The idea behind this leads to another engaging conversation about UX/UI button design, but we’ll open that can of worms we’ll open another time. It’s way more fun just pushing buttons, right?