justin․searls․co

The logout button has become defunct

The logout button seems to have been rendered practically defunct. I only purposefully sign out of certain accounts when I'm trying to curb my usage of a site or app (usually it's Twitter or Amazon). Even then, that process isn't always straightforward.

This has gotten so bad in recent years that it's probably fair to call it a dark pattern. Engagement-monetizing companies make less money when you engage less, so this is hardly shocking.

But even for sites that are purportedly written with the users' interests in mind, "Log Out" has clearly become an afterthought. Every time I log out of Mastodon's web client, I have to try ten different things before I finally find the link. Neat stuff.


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