The 49MB web page (thatshubham.com)

Article summary

The article discusses the issue of modern news websites being overly bloated with ads, trackers, and other unnecessary elements, making for a poor user experience. The example of the New York Times website is given, which loads 49MB of data and makes 422 network requests, causing a slow and frustrating experience for users. The article argues that this is a result of the desperate attempt by publishers to generate revenue through ads, which leads to a hostile user experience. The article suggests that a better approach would be to prioritize user experience and provide a clean and simple interface.

Main themes

• bloat and ads on news websites
• user experience and interface design
• journalism business models
• adblockers and RSS feeds
• subscription-based models
• alternative revenue streams
• hostile user experience

What commenters say

• Some commenters argue that journalists should not rely on ads to make a living and instead find alternative revenue streams.
• Others believe that the current state of journalism is a result of a vicious cycle where people do not pay for news, leading to low-quality reporting and a decrease in user experience.
• A few commenters suggest that the use of adblockers and RSS feeds can help users avoid the bloated and ad-heavy websites.
• Some argue that the problem lies in the business model of journalism, which prioritizes profit over user experience.
• Others propose that a better approach would be to offer a subscription-based model with a clean and ad-free experience.
• A few commenters mention that some websites, such as text.npr.org, offer a lightweight and ad-free experience, showing that a better approach is possible.
• Some argue that the issue is not with ads themselves, but with the way they are implemented, and that a more nuanced approach to advertising could improve the user experience.