#Day 12/30 - UX Law: Default Bias 🦉

People naturally stick with the pre-selected option because it requires the least effort and feels like the recommended choice.

In short: making a decision requires effort, and it's easier for them to accept the default option.

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🗒️Real-world example: Standard Plan

When signing up for a streaming service, the Standard Plan is often selected by default, so most users choose it without comparing other plans.

The Default Effect is a powerful force shaping our decisions. It revolves around the tendency to favor pre-selected options, even if alternatives might be objectively better. This phenomenon is rooted in several core principles of human psychology and cognitive biases.

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🔥 Design & Product Tips

☑️ Use defaults to help, not manipulate. Pre-select the option that's genuinely best for most users. Users might unknowingly accept defaults that incur hidden costs or restrict functionality. Transparency is key.

☑️ Be transparent : Avoid hidden defaults like automatically opting users into newsletters or paid add-ons or Imagine a social media platform pre-selecting endless scrolling as the default news feed view. This can contribute to excessive screen time and hinder mindful consumption of content. Defaults should promote healthy user behavior.