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Adding friction to user registration should be done with caution, forcing users to go through your registration form and then refuse access to the site until th
by jsnneo 10y ago
Adding friction to user registration should be done with caution, forcing users to go through your registration form and then refuse access to the site until they click on an activation link and then enter their registration information again is so much friction, it's going to drive users away and will frustrate those who do push through it... and it's completely unnecessary.
The problem this idea proposes to solve is an edge case, and there are better solutions. For example after registering an account a user can be immediately logged in with a banner displayed at the top until their account has been validated via email, with the option to change their email address if they entered it incorrectly on registration. There's no additional friction, and the minority of users who do make a mistake with their email are covered.
- Flimm 10y agoThe article wasn't suggesting a three step process (1 enter username+password, 2 validate email 3 enter username+password), it was suggesting a two step process (1 validate email 2 enter username+password).
- chmike 10y agoThese two desirable features, email verification and minimal friction are not incompatible. It is possible to allow a user to login right away and verify email in parallel. It could also be possible to ask the user to double check the email if the email validation failed. It could also be possible to force a delayed email validation. The later might be required for user who porvided a fake address when just testing the service or want to make sure they wont be spammed by the site owner. A reminder with a "don't show me again" check box would address these cases and everybody would be happy.
- bryanrasmussen 10y agoMinimal friction is especially desirable in startups that are trying to grow their user base that provide some sort of service that is not tightly bound to identity, but it is not always the most desirable measure.
- laurent123456 10y ago> For example after registering an account a user can be immediately logged in with a banner displayed at the top until their account has been validated via email That still wouldn't solve the problem the author proposes to solve. If you accidentally entered someone else email, that someone might click on the link and you'll never see the banner.
- madawan 10y agoA possible solution: if you click the "verify email" link you are brought to a verification-form where you need to enter your password.
- ProbabilityMoon 10y agoThis is literally presented in the article. (ಠ_ಠ)