What do you hate about websites?

[circa1978]

This is somewhat work related because I work in digital marketing but also just prompted by a survey I took about a sites’s beta experience. It had interstitial ads, which I fucking hate. I actually wrote in the feedback that everyone hates those but hey, maybe you love them?

I also loathe autoplay video, particularly on content I clicked into that had

nothing to do with the video playing. What are your pet peeves?

[karinothing]

I hate when I click on a link about a news story and there is only a video with no accompanying article (looking at you CNN)

[pandorica]

Feb 18, 2018 19:33:47 GMT -5 liteningme said:

Lists presented in slideshow format.

This. Once I see something is a slideshow I give up.

[UMaineTeach]

When I miss type in box on a form and it makes me re-type everything. One wrong credit card digit and I’m retyping my name, address, email...

[cmeon]

Forceful app pushes is one of my biggest pet peeves (FUCK YOU PINTEREST- STILL DON'T HAVE YOUR STUPID APP).

Ad-Block bullies. I do whitelist- when I'm politely asked to- and comfortable that they won't shit all over me with crappy autoplay/redirecting/page hijacking ads. I don't need any website enough to be pushed into it, though.

[walterismydog]

Websites that don’t scroll and instead require clicking. NO.

Too many ads.

Recipes that are like reading a damn dissertation to get to the ingredients. Apply that to anything that should be instructive but is instead too wordy. Nobody cares.

Messy, disorganized, bad fonts, too many colors, etc. I value simplicity and brevity.

[felicity]

Ads at the top of the page that push the page content down when they load, which is always right as I'm trying to click something.

[wambam]

The first two responses covered everything. I get ragey just thinking about slideshows lol.

[yourmother]

Feb 18, 2018 20:07:59 GMT -5 felicity said:

Ads at the top of the page that push the page content down when they load, which is always right as I'm trying to click something.

THis is THE WORST. I always end up accidentally clicking the stupid ad. 

[cabbagecabbage]

Everything everyone has mentioned plus I hate when sites for brick and mortar places bury their contact info. I just want to see an address and phone number for the bistro or the boutique and not a montage of dreamy photos or mission statement bullshit.

[Aquatica]

I'm usually on my phone checking the internet so ads that pop up and take over the whole screen and ads across the bottom of the screen with the "close" or "x" so tiny my fat finger hits the ad.

Like a PP mentioned, websites forcing their app or else you can't view the content like Pintrest or Yelp.

[nsl]

Feb 18, 2018 20:36:25 GMT -5 tripleshot said:

In addition to the above, when there’s a pop up asking for my email for a coupon or newsletter right away.

OMH, this. Don’t ask me to subscribe to every update you’ll ever make when I haven’t even had ten seconds to read the content I clicked on. 

[iamlaila]

Immediately trying to force a chat session or to download an app. Automatic video, esp if it ends up freezing my computer. Millions of pop ups. Businesses with hidden contact information.

[LanaLang]

Features that aren't updated kill me. Our local schools all have the same website format and some things aren't utilized, so for example, the calendar for my local school is completely blank. There is a big link for it, then just blank calendar. It's a school. I know you have stuff planned.

Also, PDFs. I want to see a restaurant's menu, not download it. This is especially annoying when I'm on my phone, which is where I'm most likely to be when searching for a restaurant menu.

[bonquiqui]

Pop ups, auto play videos, slideshows, and I like contact into to be easily visible.

[noodleoo]

When I’m reading an article and an ad pops up from the bottom or side and covers the article. So irritating! And I can never find the X to close them.

[wesleycrusher4ever]

When I'm forced to stay in mobile mode.

[Eagles]

Feb 18, 2018 20:36:25 GMT -5 tripleshot said:

In addition to the above, when there’s a pop up asking for my email for a coupon or newsletter right away.

Omg, there are several sites I visit regularly for work that ask this and say either "yes, sign me up" and some variation of "no, I'm not interested in saving money/knowing the latest info/keeping up with trends/etc." It's dismissive as fuck.

[steph96]

When I can't do everything in mobile mode. My bank switched to where I can't do bill pay unless I'm using the desktop version. It's legitimately making me think about switching banks.

[gummybear]

My main one is covered - no article to read. My other one is auto play videos. Especially when there’s like 3 going on at a time (2 ads and a story) and you can’t figure out which one is doing what

[lilibet]

Pretty much everything already listed but my newest pet peeve is the multiple pop-up attack. I've especially noticed this with food blogs I access from Pinterest. First you get the "sign up with your email to get all our updates!" pop up, then there's a pop up ad for some ridiculous website, then there's a pop up to follow them on Pinterest.... I've just been exiting the tab, I can find another source for this oatmeal cookie/cheeseburger slider/whatever.

[kayl84]

Pop ups. For anything. No I’m not joining you lost to save 20%. I have a coupon and enough spam email!!

[sent]

Feb 18, 2018 21:30:26 GMT -5 milsaroo said:

When it’s not mobile-friendly, since ya know, it’s 2018.

I finally updated my website with a new website company so I could be mobile-friendly. I'm embarrassed for myself but at the same time relieved I finally fixed it. 

[Jalapeñomel]

Flash

[mrspez07]

Lack of auto fill options.
No default to the number keypad when entering cc or number-heavy data (not sure if this is a website thing or a phone/mobile thing).
Clicking to see the rest of the list/article.
Videos playing in the corner.
Visually busy sidebars or pages, this often happens with too many ads.

[fumbalina]

Autoplay ads, especially those with sound. This is even more annoying when there is an error and you can't see the ad to mute it. Links to similar articles in the middle that appear to be part of the article. Websites that scroll constantly, usually caused by some kind of scripting error. Images that I can't enlarge. A poor balance of graphics and text. If there is too much text attention wanders, if there are too many graphics it takes forever to load and moves too slow. Having to click to open the comments if they are available to read. I also dislike PDF, or downloading a document. If i click I want to read it now on a webpage.

[Linie]

"The media could not be played" messages because I'm on a different continent...

[twilightmv]

All of the above. I also hate when you click on an article to read and then you have to click “read more” to read the rest of the content. Just give me the whole damn article. Did you think I clicked to read the article because what I really wanted was two lines of the article and a page of ads??

[turnipthebeet]

When I’m on mobile and filling out a form, I prefer that if I’m in a field asking for numbers (phone, zip) that it change to the number keyboard automatically. And if I’m in an email address field, I prefer when the gmail.com, etc option is displayed.

[ThirdandLong]

I'm not a techy so my answers are unsophisticated. But I do hate the AutoPlay videos. I also hate the ads that are looking at my history - like when my Amazon browsing is showing up on my Facebook feed. It creeps me out