66. People Expect Online Interactions to FOLLOW Social Rules

People EXPECT online interactions...

• To follow Social Rules

What does social media really mean?

• All online interactions are social interactions...
• INCLUDING:
• The act of going to a website
• Filling out a form at a government Web site to renew your automobile registration

What are the rules for Social Interactions?

• When people interact with each other, they follow rules and guidelines:
• Both parties have expectations of how the interaction will go.
• If either of the party violates the expectations, then one of the parties OR BOTH will get uncomfortable.

ONLINE Interaction have the SAME rules...

• You have assumptions about how the site will respond and how the interaction will be...

How do Social interactions mirror online?

• Many of the online expectations mirror the person-to-person interactions...
• if the website is unresponsive or it takes too long to load...
• THEN...
• it's like the person you're speaking to is not looking at you, or ignoring you.

...

• If the site asks for personal information too early in the interaction
• THEN...
• Its like the other person getting too personal.

...

• If the Web site does not save your information from session to session.
• THEN....
• That is like the other person not recognizing you or remembering that you know each other.

When designing a product think...

• Do the interactions FOLLOW social rules of a person-to-person interaction?
• ...
• >Follow basic usability guidelines and you'll be more assured of meeting interactive expectations!