Laws & Patterns
Cognitive Bias

Spotlight Effect

Users often believe they are under more scrutiny than they actually are.

Definition

The Spotlight Effect is a psychological phenomenon where users overestimate the amount of attention others are paying to their actions and appearance. They often feel like they are being closely observed and judged, when in reality, this is rarely the case.

Do

  • Provide reassuring privacy information and controls
  • Allow users to customize their public visibility
  • Implement user-friendly error messages and feedback

Avoid

  • Create unnecessary stress about public visibility
  • Over-emphasize the prominence of user actions
  • Ignore user concerns about privacy and judgment

When to apply

  • When users are posting content publicly
  • When users are creating a profile or avatar
  • When users interact within a social or community feature

Related topics

Similar principles

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