97.8%
Global Population access the internet from portable devices.
(Source: Statista, 2025)
Stop Designing for Distraction: Bring Back the Web of Information
The modern web has become a carnival of visual tricks. CMS platforms promise hover effects, animations, parallax scrolling, and page-long hero videos. Designers pitch these as “essential for engagement.” But let’s be blunt: hover effects are a waste of time on portable devices. Nearly everyone is on a phone—Statista reports that 97.8% of users browse on handheld devices in 2025. You can’t hover with a thumb, and you can’t multitask while waiting for another oversized animation to load.
From Copywriting to Clickbait
Once upon a time, copywriting was the backbone of the web. Good writing persuaded, informed, and gave readers reasons to trust. Now it’s been sidelined by inflated claims of global dominance and endless visual noise. “Bigger, bolder, brighter” has replaced “clear, concise, convincing.”
But people online are still doing the same two things they always have: looking for information or entertainment. If you’re not Netflix or TikTok, you’d better be delivering the first.
Information Wins
Visitors want clarity. They want comparisons. Tables comparing alternatives are valuable sources of information. A reader who can see side-by-side specs, pros and cons, or pricing is empowered to make a decision. Contrast that with the all-too-common vague marketing blurb backed by a flashy video. Which one builds trust?
The answer is obvious. Researched data wins over speculation. When visitors see real numbers, credible sources, and verified results, they know they’re not being sold snake oil. Trust is the currency of the digital age, and speculation spends poorly.
Fact Over Flair
We’ve all heard the saying: “Action speaks louder than words.” Online, that translates into proof over promise. A site that says “we’re the best” is forgettable. A site that provides FACTCHECKED information—test results, customer data, transparent sourcing—becomes memorable and reliable.
The irony is that CMS developers spend millions refining hover states and transition effects while neglecting the very thing users came for: knowledge. A faster page, a cleaner table, a well-structured comparison chart—those are design features that deliver value.
Time to Rebalance
This isn’t a call to strip websites down to black text on white screens. Visual design matters—but as a supporting role, not the lead. Clean typography, clear headings, and purposeful visuals help comprehension. The problem is when visuals become the main act and the information is buried, delayed, or missing altogether.
The truth is simple: users respect sites that respect their time. They don’t want to wade through an extravagant visual exposition. They want the facts—organized, concise, and credible.
CMS providers would do well to remember that. Instead of adding the next flashy animation, they should focus on building tools for structured content: comparison tables, fact-checked data blocks, and templates that make information quick to find and easy to trust.
Because in the end, it’s not the animation that convinces—it’s the argument. And a well-argued, well-researched, fact-checked page will always outlast the trend of the month.