Including...Montana's TikTok ban, how to write good microcopy and a breakdown of dark patterns.
May 23, 2023
Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the Digital Snapshot, bringing you all the latest digital news, ideas, tips and guidance for the arts, culture, museums and heritage world.
Latest News
- Over in the USA, Montana has banned the use of TikTok across the entire state. People don't expect it to survive a court appeal.
- Google will start deleting accounts that have been inactive for over two years, no doubt to free up some valuable cloud storage. If your Google account has published YouTube videos then it won't be affected.
- Elon Musk appointed Linda Yaccarino as Twitter's new boss. I have my doubts that she'll be able to rein in the billionaire's antics.
Useful / bookmarkable
- Culture24 has published their report on hybrid working in the museum sector. Recommendations include understanding your own organisation's rhythms, mapping and nurturing, digital skills, choosing the right tools and ensuring people don't slip into bad old habits.
- Katie Moffat's latest newsletter was full of good stuff, including AI updates at Google's annual developer conference, TikTok's launch of a new search widget and how to create clear error messages on your website.
- 'Microcopy' is the little nudges and prompts for buttons, error messages and the like that make it clear how users can proceed through a website. Here's a good article on writing it effectively.
Distracting / entertaining / inspiring
- This is more in the 'inspiring' pile but I was very sad to hear that Jim Roberts has passed away. Jim maintained the University of Leicester Museum Studies Jobs Desk. The internet runs on the goodwill of those few people who plug away at free online resources for everyone's benefit, and Jim was a shining example who will be sorely missed.
- Inject this quote from Chris Unitt straight into my veins.
- A YouTuber is facing 20 years in prison for deliberately crashing a plane for views. RAF Museum, take note.
Good Reads
- This is another thing I nicked from Katie Moffat's newsletter - a breakdown of the dark patterns companies employ to trick you into subscriptions, newsletters and hiding the cost of their products. Please never do any of these.
And that’s all for this edition.
If you come across any interesting or noteworthy content or have any of your own projects to share please do send it my way.
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See you soon.
Adam Koszary
Head of Digital, The Audience Agency