Mobile Inclusiveness is KEY for Success

Have you ever been scrolling through Facebook and clicked on an advertisement that takes you to a webpage that is not formatted correctly for mobile devices? I have, and it is extremely annoying! In all honesty, I often just close the page and do not even bother trying to navigate it. The experience makes my buying experience less user-friendly so I am less likely to spend money on their site.

Most of you are probably reading this blog on your smartphone now. It is so convenient to be able to connect with others and learn virtually anything you want to know more about all at the touch of your finger. We stay connected by using our smartphones, and now more than ever before smartphones are becoming more easily accessible for people in different financial situations.

In an article posted by the Pew Research Center, research associate Emily A. Vogels said that approximately 43% of adults in the US do not have internet access at home, nor do they own a laptop or computer. In comparison, she writes that only 24% do not own a smartphone (Vogels, 2021). Based on this research, that means that many Americans are relying more and more on their smartphones to access the internet.

With that in mind, I personally think that it would be safe to assume that most businesses, educators, and political leaders are actively striving to make their marketing and communications plans based on these statistics. Sadly, that is not always the case. While we do live in the 21st Century, many businesses are still lacking a mobile-first mindset. The term "mobile-first" was first coined in 2009 by Luke Wroblewski. It is best described as the concept that when designing and developing online content, it should be designed for mobile devices FIRST (What is mobile-first?).

In an article released by SmartBear, they describe the concept more in detail:

"With Mobile First, developers have the flexibility to scale up rather than scale down. For example, when you start designing for a desktop platform, there is a lot more real estate to take advantage of. The core design elements may be incredible on a desktop platform, providing a really great user experience. However, when this design needs to be adapted for mobile, you realize that none of the technology that makes the desktop user experience so great can scale down well to mobile devices. Which then leads to a sub-par mobile experience in comparison to the desktop version, and for some consumers it may feel like more of an afterthought than an actual finished product.

Scaling up designs on the other hand, presents a lot more freedom in the way you’re able to adapt your designs. With a well-functioning mobile product, you’ve already prioritized features and capabilities and identified the essential elements of your platform. Progressively enhancing the mobile platform to fit the requirements for desktop becomes a series of decisions on how to add rather than cut elements of your platform, which gives you another opportunity to be creative about how to engage users."

By shifting to a mobile-first mindset, leaders in different fields are acknowledging the widespread use of mobile devices for internet access and they are making it easier for this service to be used by everyone. 

One major shift that needs to take place now more than ever due to the COVID-19 Pandemic is the accessibility of online school materials via a smartphone device. According to Vogels, "In April 2020, 59% of parents with lower incomes who had children in schools that were remote due to the pandemic said their children would likely face at least one of three digital obstacles to their schooling, such as a lack of reliable internet at home, no computer at home, or needing to use a smartphone to complete schoolwork" (Vogels, 2021). This cry for help was met by many wireless network providers providing a temporary bandaid to solve the problem while the world was shut down. However, what should these students do now that they no longer can afford the internet access they were provided with at home?

For starters, many websites that are used to assign online homework such as Google Classroom, Canvas, and Blackboard all offer free apps that can be downloaded to smartphones. These apps allow students to access their assignments at the touch of a button. In fact, my brother sat in my office and took a quiz on his phone just two days ago. Many school systems across America have also started computer or tablet loan programs in which students can check out technology devices to use at home. However, many students still cannot upload their work this way because they do not have internet service at home. Thankfully, many teachers will allow the students to download the assignments before going home and assign the due date when they are back in class. While none of the answers are permanent resolutions... they are great alternatives to not having access at all. 

As a college recruiter, I oftentimes find myself having to get creative with the ways that I am reaching out to contact students. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that this new generation is a technology-based bunch. If they can take a class online, many of them want to. If they can fill out a digital form rather than a paper form, many of them want to. If they can take notes on a computer rather than with a pencil and piece of paper, many of them want to. It saves them time and money while also allowing them to have their files available whenever and wherever they need them.

Truthfully, I do not believe that we will ever live in a world that is not influenced by technology. As different systems continue to develop and evolve, it is so important that we continue to do the same. Starting by helping everyone, even low-income Americans, gain access to the internet through the use of technology. Businesses, educators, and political leaders alike should be focused on creating and maintaining accessible online content for their audiences and peers. 

References: 

Vogels, E. A. (2021, June 22). Digital Divide Persists Even as Americans with Lower Incomes Make Gains in Tech Adoption. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/06/22/digital-divide-persists-even-as-americans-with-lower-incomes-make-gains-in-tech-adoption/.

What is mobile-first? smartbear.com. (n.d.). https://smartbear.com/learn/performance-monitoring/what-is-mobile-first/.