Lack of interest Make "Watch" and "Unwatch" buttons one-click actions (skip confirmation dialog)

[Steffen]

Our users suggest to turn these buttons into one-click buttons that do not require a confirmation dialog.

I think this would be fine (and a plus for usability) if the user explicitly opts-in to this behaviour. So maybe a new account settings checkbox "Skip confirmation when manually watching / unwatching content" would be a good idea.

 

[DragonByte Tech]

I disagree with this, especially for mobile where content has a tendency to jump positions.

Also, watching content generates emails, and explicit consent is always needed (even if the act in question is the act of submitting a form requesting a reply to a user-provided email address) according to every German on this forum. If this option was added, there would be a lot of upset Germans demanding it be reverted or it be made possible to disable this option in the UserCP.


Fillip

 

[Steffen]

Then maybe only enable the one-click buttons if the user has disabled the checkbox "Automatically watch content you interact with… and receive email notifications" in his account settings.

 

[DragonByte Tech]

That would still violate the "explicit consent is always needed" clause, because you're still (potentially) generating emails for the user (thus processing their email address) without getting explicit, confirmed consent


Fillip

 

[Ozzy47]

As annoying as I find those stupid overlays, I agree they need to stay for the reasons specified.

 

[Steffen]

If the user has disabled the checkbox "Automatically watch content you interact with… and receive email notifications" then when do you think the forum would "potentially" be generating emails for the user for a newly watched thread?

 

[Martok]

If the user has disabled the checkbox "Automatically watch content you interact with… and receive email notifications" then when do you think the forum would "potentially" be generating emails for the user for a newly watched thread?

That's an automatic option. Clicking on the Watch option is manual and is different.

I (and likely many other people) do not have "Automatically watch content you interact with…" enabled but at times may want to watch specific threads and receive email notifications about them (one example for me was one of the GDPR threads; other examples are for several resources that I want email notifications about). I also watch some other threads and resources but do not want emails for those. Therefore the overlay and choice is still needed.

 

[DragonByte Tech]

[...] Therefore the overlay and choice is still needed.

Put it better than I was about to

Enabling email notifications for only one thread after a system like this would be a multi-step process (way less user friendly) whereas now it’s just a two step process.


Fillip

 

[Steffen]

I haven't proposed to change anything by default (or to take away the overlay from those who want to use it). I've proposed to add an option (a checkbox in the account settings) for those who never want to receive email notifications anyway and therefore would benefit from a one-click watch / unwatch button. If users want to selectively enable email notifications (i.e. they want to have the choice offered by the overlay) then they can continue to do so and don't have to change anything.