I've always wondered if anyone used sharing buttons on news sites and blogs

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Interpreting the 0.21% Usage Rate

  • Many argue 0.21% (≈1 in 476 visitors) is surprisingly high for any optional action on a site, especially a government site where people come to “get something done,” not browse.
  • Others see 1-in-476 as “basically no one,” saying a feature below a few percent is negligible.
  • Some note the metric is incomplete: unclear how many shares happen by copy–paste instead, or how many “share events” are from repeat users or bots.

UX, Predictability, and User Control

  • A common complaint: share buttons are unpredictable. They may open a social network, copy text plus marketing fluff, or generate long tracking URLs.
  • Many prefer manual copy–paste to stay in control and avoid editing out disingenuous messages or junk parameters.
  • Accidental taps/clicks are frequent, especially on touch devices, muddying stats.

Privacy, Tracking, and Motives

  • Strong concern that share widgets primarily exist to embed tracking pixels and third‑party cookies.
  • Even when blocked by power users, participants worry about mass tracking of less aware users and the social graph inferred from shared links.

Where Share Buttons Work Well

  • Several report meaningful CTR (5–7%) and inbound referrals on social-heavy products.
  • Share features are praised in native apps or web apps lacking obvious URLs (e.g., Amazon app, maps, games, calculators, schedule/score sharing, Wordle-style result sharing).
  • Share tools can act as a visual cue or call-to-action even if users ultimately copy the URL manually.

Alternatives and Design Suggestions

  • Many favor simple “Copy link” buttons or clean navigator.share() usage, especially on mobile.
  • Suggested patterns:
    • Offer both “Copy link” and native share (when available).
    • Ensure links are short, stable, and free of tracking junk.
    • Make shares actually useful (e.g., prefilled train itinerary, game results) rather than generic promos.

User Differences and Changing Behavior

  • Tech-savvy users tend to distrust or avoid share buttons; some non-technical or older users struggle with copy–paste and benefit from share UIs.
  • Several note behavior has shifted over time; share buttons may be less central now but still provide a “tiny but meaningful” share channel.