Apps introducing short-form content
May. 1st, 2025 01:56 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fujomajokoI kinda (really) hate how every app is trying to implement some sort of "reels" section even when it's not necessary for it.
For instance, I returned to Webtoon after a couple of months because a comic I was reading had finally resumed. (Personally, Webtoon feels like it's been going downhill since 2021. The introduction of coins, Daily Pass, and watching ads to unlock coins or episode makes the entire reading experience unbearable. These features are meant to help artists earn more, but since some creators have come out expressing their dissatisfaction with Webtoon's contracts, these features feel more like a cheap cash grab.)The UI on the website is still the same since about 2018, but the UI on the app feels disorganized to me. The loading screen always contains an ad now, the promotion slideshow is no longer at the top, and there's no longer a separate tab for daily series. My biggest grievance is with the New and Hot tab they've add. It's essentially Webtoon's version of TikTok or Reels where you can scroll through short videos advertising Webtoons on the app. They're essentially the same ads you would see on Youtube or anywhere else. My only issue is why is this necessary? You already have a chance to read a preview when you click on a Webtoon. The promotion slideshow still exists on the app, so they could still use that. It just feels so out of place to me on an app where you're supposed to read webtoons.
Another app that has this feature is Substack. I joined Substack recently because I found many fashion bloggers from the early 2010's creating articles there. I initially thought It was a place where you could access multiple bloggers' articles and newsletters in one place. However, now that I've been using it for a while, it feels more like Twitter if more people actually used the article tab. Of course, it's much more civil and calm, which I can appreciate. However, it also has version of reels that people can infinitely scroll through. (Also, a lot of the content there are just reuploaded TikTok's (ﾉಥ益ಥ)ﾉ). Again, I don't feel like an app like Substack should incorporate short-form content when the whole purpose is to read articles.
Of course, these aren't the only apps doing this. But it's so annoying to see multiple apps adding short-form content, especially when its obvious when it's added just to keep people on the app. ( _ _ )
For instance, I returned to Webtoon after a couple of months because a comic I was reading had finally resumed. (Personally, Webtoon feels like it's been going downhill since 2021. The introduction of coins, Daily Pass, and watching ads to unlock coins or episode makes the entire reading experience unbearable. These features are meant to help artists earn more, but since some creators have come out expressing their dissatisfaction with Webtoon's contracts, these features feel more like a cheap cash grab.)The UI on the website is still the same since about 2018, but the UI on the app feels disorganized to me. The loading screen always contains an ad now, the promotion slideshow is no longer at the top, and there's no longer a separate tab for daily series. My biggest grievance is with the New and Hot tab they've add. It's essentially Webtoon's version of TikTok or Reels where you can scroll through short videos advertising Webtoons on the app. They're essentially the same ads you would see on Youtube or anywhere else. My only issue is why is this necessary? You already have a chance to read a preview when you click on a Webtoon. The promotion slideshow still exists on the app, so they could still use that. It just feels so out of place to me on an app where you're supposed to read webtoons.
Another app that has this feature is Substack. I joined Substack recently because I found many fashion bloggers from the early 2010's creating articles there. I initially thought It was a place where you could access multiple bloggers' articles and newsletters in one place. However, now that I've been using it for a while, it feels more like Twitter if more people actually used the article tab. Of course, it's much more civil and calm, which I can appreciate. However, it also has version of reels that people can infinitely scroll through. (Also, a lot of the content there are just reuploaded TikTok's (ﾉಥ益ಥ)ﾉ). Again, I don't feel like an app like Substack should incorporate short-form content when the whole purpose is to read articles.
Of course, these aren't the only apps doing this. But it's so annoying to see multiple apps adding short-form content, especially when its obvious when it's added just to keep people on the app. ( _ _ )
