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Twitter is readjusting the contrast of its buttons following comments on its design updates earlier this week. Some people have reported eye strain, headaches, and migraines due to the higher visual contrast in button and link colors, as well as the new font, Chirp.
We’re changing the contrast of all the buttons to make them more pleasing to the eye, because you told us the new look is uncomfortable for sensitive people. We listen and iterate.
– Twitter accessibility (@ TwitterA11y) August 13, 2021
The contrast changes also included a black follow button that gets filled in if you’re not following someone, confusing many people used to it being the other way around. It is not yet known whether this change will be reversed.
As this tends to happen every time a popular site changes its design, the immediate reception of changes from Twitter has been mixed. It’s likely that some Twitter users have gotten used to the update over time. But for those who say the new design has caused them pain, the change has highlighted a common problem in online accessibility: a lack of choice.
Accessibility is not one size fits all; a feature that makes a site more accessible for one person may make it more difficult for another to use. High contrast is often useful for people who are visually or color blind, but it can be painful for people who are sensitive to bright colors or light.
This is a prime example of how some access needs are systematically centered on others within “accessible” processes!
High contrast is notoriously NOT accessible for many photosensitive and chronic pain people. https://t.co/c1AQNkMvC0
– Alex Haagaard (they / them) (@alexhaagaard) August 11, 2021
There is no more accessible option for the Twitter interface. The best accessibility comes from flexibility, allowing users to choose the options that suit them. Twitter currently has toggles in its accessibility menu for settings such as increasing color contrast and reducing motion, as well as display settings that allow users to choose between light and dark themes or colors. ‘adapt the size of the text.
It could avoid a lot of headaches if users were given more granular options and could select whatever contrast level they want, rather than having to wait on Twitter to make universal changes. Twitter did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but its @ TwitterA11y account was solicit comments about the changes.
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