Most people access websites and digital tools on their phones — and websites can be slow to load on mobile phones. Why? Most mobile devices are powered by networks (3G, 4G, or 5G) that are significantly slower than the broadband connections that many people use at home.46 Mobile service providers often throttle, or slow, speeds on their networks to conserve bandwidth.47 As a result, webpages — especially graphics and videos — can be frustratingly slow to load (and suck up a lot of data).
Following people-first design principles ensures that everyone can access the information on your website regardless of their hardware (e.g., the model of their phone or desktop computer), the speed of their internet or mobile service, or the size of their data plan.
Here are some ways to do that:
- Enable progressive loading. This is when websites or tools “hold off” on loading as many resources as possible, focusing instead on only loading the features (like code, animation, or video) needed to experience the content that’s visible on the screen. As the user interacts with the page — like by scrolling down — more content will load.
- Offer options for flexibility. For example, if a video is slow to load, give users the option to read a transcript instead.
- Consider content compression. Using content compression allows websites or tools to send the same data and information using fewer resources. This reduces transfer times, transfer costs, and overall usage of a given resource.
- Use a tool to simulate slow network connections when building and testing your site. This will give you the perspective you need to ensure your website will function sufficiently with a slow connection.
