What mobile websites should look like

This comic nails it. Mobile sites are supposed to make content easier to read. Instead, most news outlets cram ads, popups, and clickbait into every pixel.

What’s Happening Here

The Oatmeal shows how a simple desktop layout becomes a jumbled mess on mobile. Rather than streamlining, sites overload users with distractions chasing ad revenue instead of retention.

Why It Works (as satire)

Highlights contrast: clean design vs cluttered chaos
Uses humor to amplify frustration
Shows, doesn’t tell—visual punchline lands instantly
Taps into shared pain of bad UX

Real-World Examples

Forbes’ mobile splash screen delaying content for 5+ seconds
CNN’s homepage with full-screen autoplay ads
BuzzFeed optimizing for scroll depth instead of readability

Good UX = happier users = more time on site. Simple math most publishers ignore.

This comic nails it. Mobile sites are supposed to make content easier to read. Instead, most news outlets cram ads, popups, and clickbait into every pixel.

What’s Happening Here

The Oatmeal shows how a simple desktop layout becomes a jumbled mess on mobile. Rather than streamlining, sites overload users with distractions chasing ad revenue instead of retention.