Issue 23: How Animal Crossing and Google Low-Key Hack Your Choices?

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🌟 Hey, it's Kushagra. Welcome to AtlasMoth's “FOCUS: 2” edition.

While brainstorming topics for this issue, I did what most of us do—I turned to Google for research. As I started typing, I noticed how the search bar immediately suggested default recommendations, tailored to my current query and past preferences. Before I knew it, I was in a rabbit hole of cognitive psychology.

That detour got me thinking: what if I explore the impact of default effect or bias on the user? It’s a subtle but powerful influence on user choices, shaped by how information is presented. Understanding this could be pivotal in shaping the long-term success of any product. Let’s dive into how we can leverage this for smarter design.

When users interact with an application, they often stick with the default settings, making it essential to design defaults that guide them toward desired actions.

✅ Here's an example: When someone signs up for a newsletter and sees the checkbox for receiving updates already selected, they usually leave it as is. This design choice takes advantage of their default bias, encouraging them to sign up with minimal effort.

📊 The evidence that supports this:

🧠 This is known as the default effect, where users tend to stick with pre-selected options, which significantly influence their decisions.

🌐 My experience with a recent client, where I designed the UX for a DeFi app that enables users to create communities based on their preferences on the Ethereum blockchain (I’m not one to spill the beans, but I’ll talk more about this project in a future issue🤪).

Here’s what I observed in users:

🤔 When faced with choices, they often feel uncertain.

🛌 A pre-selected option helps them avoid decision fatigue.

✅ Users typically choose the default, minimizing effort and risk.

🛒 This bias shapes their behavior, influencing everything from software settings to purchasing decisions.

🍒 But here's what can make it even better, like a cherry on top: nudge theory.

🍏It’s a subtle push to help people make better choices without forcing them. Imagine you want to eat more apples instead of cookies.

👉 If someone places the apples at the front of the fridge where you can easily see them, you're more likely to choose an apple. That small change is a 'nudge'—a gentle way to guide you toward a healthier choice without removing the cookies.

🌟 Nudges are particularly helpful when:

• 🚦 Users are overwhelmed by too many options and struggle to choose. A subtle design change—a 'nudge'—can gently steer them in the right direction.

• 💡 Users begin making better decisions with less effort.

• 💸 These nudges shape behavior, enhancing everything from health to financial decisions.

📊 Here are the stats:

📰 I could provide more examples, but I want to shed light on a recent news story that perfectly illustrates this theory.

🤓 This week, I came across an article about Google’s illegal monopoly on search and the ongoing court case. Whenever tech meets drama, my inner geek can't resist diving in.

🌐 This case struck me as more than just a legal battle; it underscored a fundamental truth about how our choices are subtly influenced by defaults.

💵 Google’s $20 billion deal with Apple to become Safari’s default search engine wasn’t just a financial move; it was a powerful example of how our decisions are often shaped by what’s most convenient. It got me thinking about how these defaults are more than just conveniences—they’re potent tools that guide our digital behaviors.

🔍 The concept of the 'default effect' intrigued me. Rooted in behavioral economics, it highlights how our choices are influenced by what’s presented to us first. The fact that 60% of Google searches in 2017 occurred because users accepted the default setting, rather than making an active choice, underscores just how heavily we rely on defaults.

🧭 The default effect acts like a silent guide, subtly steering us through our digital experiences. This concept isn’t limited to search engines; it influences many aspects of our online lives, gently directing our actions and decisions.

💿 Reflecting on defaults, I realized how these principles manifest in the real world. Take Apple’s decision to eliminate CD/DVD drives, for instance. This move nudged us toward digital downloads, forever changing how we access and use software.

🎯 Similarly, Slack’s design encourages us to use public channels, making open communication the norm. These changes aren’t just about convenience—they’re about guiding behavior and establishing new norms. It’s like watching a carefully choreographed dance, where each step leads us toward a specific outcome.

Here’s where gamification takes the lead

🐶Animal Crossing is a perfect example of this.

💸In its first year, the game raked in $2 billion by skillfully using defaults to guide player choices and boost engagement. In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, these defaults assist players—especially younger ones or those unsure of their options—by offering clear paths and suggestions. They also help drive conversions by encouraging purchase completions.

Here are multiple instances:

• 🏡Redecorating a villager’s house could lead to accidental mistakes. A player can cancel a project without losing any Bells by saying "I’m quitting" but this is easily missed and can confuse people thereby leading to avoidable costs.

• 🖼️Players have the opportunity to invest in art pieces sold by Cousin Redd who at times sells fakes. The default phrase that appears during purchase discussions is “You got a deal”, making it possible for players to unknowingly acquire imposters because of rapid clicking actions.

• 🌍Unlike the real world where it is easy to check your wardrobe, players often buy the same clothes again and again because they cannot know what they possess. The salespeople in the game are also making it hard for them to understand what they are doing by constantly prompting shopkeepers.

🧩 Reflecting on all this, I’m reminded of the profound influence design has on our lives. What might seem like a simple default setting is, in reality, a powerful tool for shaping behavior.

🔍 Reading about Google’s monopoly case made me realize that defaults are more than just convenient settings—they’re influential forces that shape our choices. This concept, known as the 'default effect,' demonstrates how our behavior is often guided by what’s easiest, whether in search engines or software decisions.

🎯 For me, it underscores the significant impact of design choices and how leveraging defaults, especially through gamification, can create engaging and intuitive user experiences. It’s a powerful reminder that even seemingly small design decisions can significantly steer behavior and enhance user interaction.

👩‍💻 Founders and managers should recognize that defaults are potent tools for shaping user behavior. By strategically designing default settings and incorporating gamification, they can guide users toward desired actions and boost engagement.

📍 Here’s the ideal way to implement a nudge:

🤓 Recognizing how these design choices subtly influence behavior enables the creation of more intuitive and enjoyable experiences, ultimately aligning user journeys with business goals.

What I found amazing this week

🗺️Apple Maps now features a new 'Search Here' button.

🎮 Mitch Lasky and Blake Robbins on Mastering Business in Gaming

🎵Hit that gave me a kick Listen to New Low by Middle Class Rut