Characteristics of Good and Bad Websites
| Good Websites | Bad Websites | |
|---|---|---|
| User Experience | Intuitive navigation, clean design, legible fonts with good contrast | Cluttered navigation, slow load times, difficult access to information |
| Design Quality | Sleek, efficient, engaging design across desktop and mobile | Outdated design, varied fonts and colors, cluttered layout |
| Brand Reflection | Reflects well on the brand, converts visitors to customers | Amateurish appearance, reflects poorly on the brand |
| Performance | Fast load times, smooth interactions | Slow performance, outdated aesthetic |
| SEO and Marketing | Supports marketing goals, SEO-friendly | Neglects SEO, fails to support marketing goals |
| Security | Follows security protocols | Potentially insecure, lacks up-to-date security measures |
| Visual Appeal | High-quality images, modern aesthetic | Low-quality images, neglected and untrustworthy appearance |
How Web-Based Media Can Perpetuate Systems of Inequality or Promote Social Change
The growth of the internet and web-based media has had a profound impact on society. As access to the internet has become more and more ubiquitous, we have seen the potential for the use of web-based media to perpetuate social inequalities. At the same time, web-based media can also be used to promote social change.
On one end of the spectrum, web-based media on the internet provides an outlet for activism and awareness to grow organically. Social media platforms have greatly reduced the barrier to entry for broad messaging. A single user can create a post that goes viral without spending a single dollar. This allows many marginalized people and communities to have a voice that was never previously available to them.
At the same time, web-based media has also led to echo chambers and the growth of toxic communities that serve to perpetuate inequality. As we have shifted our social lives to the internet, many find communities of like-minded people that think about things the same way that they do. These communities can sometimes silence diverse thoughts and ideas—leading to an environment where misinformation can become amplified.
As with any powerful tool, web-based media can be used in both positive and negative ways. Due to the ability for web-based media to spread influence widely and easily, ideas can spread throughout our society more easily than ever before. This creates a very powerful opportunity and risk. Encouraging digital literacy, promoting diverse ideas, and calling out misinformation can help tilt the balance towards the positive benefits and mitigate the negative costs.
Content Management Systems (CMS)
A Content Management System (CMS) is a software application that allows users to easily manage and modify content on a website. In many cases, CMS software can be operated by someone with no coding knowledge. The CMS software allows a user to design a website using very easy click-and-drag style tools, and then translates the user’s input into corresponding HTML code. Users can easily add and position text, images, videos, and other types of content, and then publish them online.
In the past, building and managing a website required extensive knowledge of programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and PHP. This greatly increased the barrier to entry and overall cost of creating and maintaining a website. Today, CMS software allows virtually anyone to create and manage a website.
Other advantages of CMS platforms include the ability to easily manage and optimize content for SEO, which makes it easier for potential customers or visitors to find the website online. Many CMS platforms also have pre-designed templates that allow users to quickly create a website with aesthetics that match the purpose of the site.
Another major advantage is the availability of plugins and other extensions. Plugins are add-on software that can be used to further customize the functionality of the website. For example, plugins exist that can add an online store, social media integration, or embedded multimedia without any need for custom coding.
However, there are some downsides. CMSs can be limited when it comes to customization. The number of templates that they offer are finite, so there are likely to be websites that use the same exact aesthetics. CMS also generally does not scale well—both financially and technically. At a certain size or amount of traffic, it is no longer economical to pay for a CMS platform to design and host a website. Security is also another important concern when using a CMS platform. Because there is minimal control of the underlying code, there is a limited capability to monitor and protect the site from cyber threats.
While CMS platforms are certainly a very useful tool in web design, it is still important to understand the underlying coding languages that support them. Knowledge of HTML and CSS can help when troubleshooting issues with the site. Additionally, understanding HTML enables better control and customization of the structure and presentation of the website. While a CMS can handle most basic tasks, greater knowledge of HTML allows for the management of more complex websites that can handle a wider variety of use cases.