Defaults Are Dangerous
I have a billion-dollar business idea.
Here, you can have it: a restaurant called “The Picky Eaters Club.” The menu is really simple. French fries, plain noodles, a dry cheese sandwich, plain pizza. Maaaaaybe chicken nuggets.
It would appeal to millions of picky eaters out there– kids and adults.
It sounds good in practice but the truth is, most of us would never eat there. We like customized, personalized. In picking a restaurant, we choose something that gets us excited. Even if we went to the PEC for our kids, we would find something to eat there, but probably not be super happy about it. Or at least satisfied.
Our phones are the tech version of The Picky Eaters Club.
These devices are meant for literally billions of people. They’re designed with mass appeal in mind. Which basically means that everything gets dumbed down. The metaphoric Flavors get watered down in order to satisfy everyone.
The Defaults:
The standard design that comes out-of-the box in your phone and computer.
Default notifications are not customized for your workday. Or your preferences. They’re not designed with your focus and energy in mind. They’re not built to help you achieve your goals. In fact, the opposite. They drive your time and attention so that companies like Apple, Facebook, Google, and Amazon profit.
In an ideal world, phones are like restaurants.
Each one satisfies a very specific need for a specific person at a specific time.
Insomnia Cookies is not thinking about wine pairing like Eleven Madison Park. The corner bodega is not worried about surprise and delight. Some people want those things. And some don’t.
The point is, you use this thing every day. Hours and hours a day. You deserve to have something that works for you. That has been designed to serve your needs.
Take the time to make it work for you.
Caveday is a company aimed at improving your relationship to work. We write regular posts on Medium and send out monthly newsletters with productivity tips, life hacks, and recommendations. Sign up for the mailing list here.
Jake Kahana is a cofounder of Caveday. Sign up for his personal emails, called “The Email Refrigerator” here.