The hottest User Behavior Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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The Phone Is Addicted to You

The Algorithmic Bridge • 828 implied HN points • 28 Nov 25
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. We often think we're addicted to our phones, but many people are actually trying to escape from them. It's common to hide our phones or limit our app usage, showing that we seek peace from constant distractions.
  2. Technology is designed to keep us engaged, and it adapts to our efforts to pull away. Instead of being the users, we might be seen as a source of energy for our devices, feeding their need for our attention.
  3. Recognizing this dynamic can change how we feel about our phone habits. By understanding that our phones can be dependent on us, we can shift our mindset and gain the power to change our behaviors.

The RedNote honeymoon won't last

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 4986 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. RedNote, a new app, is gaining popularity as users look for alternatives to TikTok. It focuses on social shopping and creating content about products.
  2. Despite its rapid rise, RedNote might struggle long-term because it has a language barrier and isn't as globally popular as TikTok.
  3. As users enjoy RedNote now, conflicts may arise as happens on most social media platforms. This could change users' perceptions of the app over time.

Telephone troubles

Disaffected Newsletter • 2158 implied HN points • 03 Jan 24
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. People used to enjoy phone calls and felt excited when the phone rang. Now, many find modern phones annoying and feel they serve the demands of companies instead of the user’s needs.
  2. Modern phone users often lack manners and respect for privacy, using features like speakerphone in public without consideration for others. Many don’t think about how their calls affect those around them.
  3. Communication has shifted, and with it, the expectations of basic decency. It's important for users to remember to consider others’ comfort and privacy when making calls.

YouTube Shorts Averages Over 200 Billion Daily Views

The Algorithmic Bridge • 626 implied HN points • 24 Jun 25
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. YouTube Shorts gets over 200 billion views every day, showing how much time people spend watching them. But that high number raises concerns about how this attention is being used.
  2. Many tech creators focus on making money rather than improving people's lives. This leads to products that can harm instead of help, especially for younger users.
  3. There's a growing pushback against technology that doesn't benefit society. People are becoming aware and rejecting approaches that prioritize profits over well-being.

Why Every China Watcher Must Be on WeChat

Pekingnology • 305 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. WeChat is the main app for communication in China. If you're not using it, you might miss important conversations and connections.
  2. WeChat is not just for chatting; it combines many apps into one. You can read news, share content, shop, and even pay for services all through WeChat.
  3. A lot of information and discussions happen only on WeChat, so being outside of it means missing out on key updates and insights from Chinese society.
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Why we like coffee more than Duolingo - P.1

Gentle Nudge • 99 implied HN points • 17 May 24
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. Behavior depends on three factors: motivation, ability, and prompts.
  2. Product loops play a crucial role in user engagement and retention, involving triggers, actions, variable rewards, and investments.
  3. Consider additional variables like schedule, existing routines, sequences, and organic frequency when designing product loops for sustainable user engagement.

The existential problems with Threads

Hot Takes • 471 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. Threads faces challenges in attracting users away from established platforms due to oversaturation and user fatigue.
  2. The lack of financial incentives for users on Threads puts it at a disadvantage in a landscape where users value their time and content.
  3. Privacy concerns, trust issues, and the risk of censorship could deter users from joining Threads, impacting its success.

Twitter or Bluesky? How about neither.

Silver Bulletin • 418 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. Twitter has lost much of its influence compared to its heyday, now having less engagement and relevance in social media discussions. Many users are finding better alternatives for their online engagement.
  2. Despite challenges, Twitter still holds some value for quick updates, memes, and keeping up with special interests. However, its growth seems stagnant, and it's not heading towards a broader 'everything app' vision.
  3. The business model of platforms like Twitter faces inherent issues, as they struggle to balance being a platform and a publisher. This affects their profitability and long-term sustainability.

How To Do a Root Cause Analysis - Issue 162

Data Analysis Journal • 275 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. Root cause analysis is essential for understanding unexpected changes in user behavior or metric decline.
  2. Tools like Root Cause Analysis (RCA) can pinpoint anomalies quickly, but additional work is needed to truly understand why something is happening.
  3. Analyzing the 'what' and 'why' behind metrics decline or user behavior change requires a comprehensive framework.

The thermodynamics of user laziness

Sunday Letters • 159 implied HN points • 04 Sep 23
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. Users are often seen as lazy, but that's because they are busy and don’t have time to adjust to new things unless it’s really worth it.
  2. For people to adopt a new habit or product, the benefit must be significantly greater than the effort it takes to change, often needing to be ten times better or solve an existing problem.
  3. When creating products, it's crucial to understand the user's total experience and ensure the solution truly simplifies their life, or they simply won’t bother adapting.

Uncovering Hidden Insights: Eye Tracking and Mouse Tracking for UX Research

UX Psychology • 119 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. Traditional UX research methods focus on qualitative data from interviews, surveys, and tests, but new approaches like eye tracking and mouse tracking offer deeper insights into unconscious user behaviors.
  2. Eye tracking technology maps users' gaze on screens, providing insights into attention, distractions, and navigation patterns, although it can be costly and requires specialized equipment.
  3. Mouse tracking records hand movements and decision-making processes, complementing eye tracking data to reveal user interactions and uncover hidden pain points in interfaces.

The curious case of "TikTok refugees" on Rednote/Xiaohongshu

Pekingnology • 158 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. Many TikTok users in the U.S. are moving to a Chinese app called RedNote due to fears of a TikTok ban. This has led to an increase in the app's popularity.
  2. RedNote is like a mix of TikTok and Instagram, mainly used by young people to share lifestyle tips. However, it hasn't been widely known outside of Chinese-speaking areas until now.
  3. The move raises concerns about content moderation and privacy. RedNote may struggle with foreign-language content and could face pressure from Chinese regulations as more American users join.

Are you leaving Twitter/X?

Men Yell at Me • 168 implied HN points • 18 Nov 24
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. Many people have been leaving Twitter/X since the recent election. They are trying out other platforms like BlueSky or Instagram.
  2. Some people are considering taking a break from social media altogether. Others might even think about disconnecting completely and going off the grid.
  3. The post invites readers to share their own plans for social media over the next four years, encouraging a conversation about online presence.

When to Scale or Keep Iterating

The Data Score • 59 implied HN points • 10 May 23
💼 Business User Behavior
  1. Achieving product/market fit is crucial for the success of a startup or new product as it means the product meets the needs and preferences of the target market, leading to customer satisfaction and retention.
  2. Iterating on a handcrafted approach at the start can help find product/market fit before scaling to avoid unwanted tech debt and ensure the product evolves to meet client outcomes.
  3. To determine product/market fit, look for signs like user retention, surveys showing strong customer preference, and organic growth, then iterate quickly based on critical feedback to ensure the product is indispensable to users.

Bogus accounts in the blue skies

Conspirador Norteño • 80 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. Bluesky is getting a lot of new users, but some of those accounts are fake. These inauthentic accounts often use the same photos and bios, making them easy to spot.
  2. The bogus accounts post similar things, like photos of fitness centers and coffee, and use identical captions. This makes it clear they aren't real people.
  3. These fake accounts seem to follow popular liberal users from X and try to blend in. As more people join Bluesky, the influence of these inauthentic accounts could grow.

Rabbit Holes 🕳️ #107

Creative Destruction • 41 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. There's a new term called 'appistocracy,' which describes how a few tech apps and their creators control our daily lives. These powerful apps affect everything from our news to our relationships.
  2. Digital hoarding is like collecting too much stuff online. It includes downloading lots of apps or creating content just to feel safe, but it can take away our ability to control our digital lives.
  3. The internet is changing, moving from a place of links and connections to using AI chatbots for information. This could mean losing the rich web of ideas we used to explore.

The best behavioral frameworks for creating great products

The Kahneman Bot • 39 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. Behavioral frameworks play a crucial role in product development by focusing on influencing user behavior and decision-making.
  2. Frameworks like EAST, Hooked, and Influence offer practical guidelines for improving products by making actions easy, attractive, and timely.
  3. Models like COM-B and Fogg's Behavior Model help product teams consider the wider environment and factors influencing user behavior.

Spam in the firehose, part III

Conspirador Norteño • 32 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. There is a large network of fake accounts on Bluesky, all created to follow real users quickly and in groups. These accounts look almost identical, using default profile images and very little personal information.
  2. The spam accounts often follow a mix of different types of real accounts, including celebrities and businesses, but they usually don't have much content themselves. They mainly repost or reply with very simple comments.
  3. The way these fake accounts behave, like following in large swarms, makes it easy to spot them. They create a clear pattern that shows they aren't real users.

Can I talk to an AI, please?

Generating Conversation • 46 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. AI products require users to change their mindset. Instead of expecting a perfect answer right away, users learn to work with AI to get better results over time.
  2. AI doesn't just replace existing tasks; it creates new opportunities. Users can now ask AI to do many things that were difficult or time-consuming before.
  3. Using AI tools gives valuable insights into user behavior. Users feel more comfortable asking simple or repetitive questions that they wouldn't ask a human, providing helpful data for improving the product.

Demand Characteristics in UX Research

UX Psychology • 79 implied HN points • 11 Apr 22
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. Participants in research studies often change their natural behavior to match what they think the researcher expects.
  2. Demand characteristics, the Hawthorne effect, and social desirability bias are related but have subtle differences in how they impact participant behavior.
  3. To mitigate the impact of demand characteristics in UX research, strategies like using a double-blind approach, being mindful of participant cues, recruiting diverse participants, and employing methodological triangulation can be effective.

Great Products Have Great Premises

Working Theorys • 86 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
💼 Business User Behavior
  1. A great premise gives context and comfort for users to engage in actions they might otherwise find challenging
  2. Great premises are the foundation of successful products and brands, normalizing behaviors or beliefs that were previously not accepted or considered mainstream
  3. Powerful premises lead to strong identities for products and businesses, shaping brand decisions and marketing strategies

The Catastrophe of Shiny Objects: Boredom, Attention, and Creativity

Mind Prison • 11 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
🕹 Technology User Behavior
  1. Technology keeps us entertained but can limit our creativity. Constant stimulation from devices can make it hard for us to think deeply or come up with new ideas.
  2. Boredom is a key part of our thinking process. It helps our brains reset and can lead us to explore new ideas and solutions if we let it.
  3. Ignoring boredom by filling our time with distractions can hurt our ability to develop skills. If we always seek instant entertainment, we miss chances for growth and creativity.