David,
I’m sorry to say that I thought Tumblr’s recent “heart-of-BP-executive black” dashboard fundraising effort went slightly too far.
I have no issues with, an indeed applaud, business for holding high moral standards; actively lobbying government and other corporations; or making political and charitable donations from its profits. However, when these otherwise admirable positions directly, and without customer choice, impact on user experience it’s another matter.
Whilst I understand that your target demographic is overwhelmingly environmentally savvy and politically left leaning, and as such takes kindly to your bold actions, I really feel that, from a UX perspective, content distribution/consumption systems such as your own should be neutral venues: A place where ideas, thoughts and even pictures of Pugs can be shared, largely without without let or hinderance (certain social mores excepted), and certainly without an editorial wrapping such as that which you created today.
Tumblr’s greatest attribute is the incredibly diverse content posted by users: From kittens and bunnies; to science and business; through crazy memes and celebrity obsession; right to the darker edges of personal taste and decency. If the creation, and much of the consumption, of this amazing content is then wrapped in a UI that pushes an agenda, however subtly, suddenly the independent spirit of freedom that Tumblr has engendered and nourished is lost.
So please, donate as much of your future profits to any cause you wish, but do so without politicising your users’ experience. Leave the editorial direction to the hugely engaged community that you’ve built up, and remain the best blank canvas that the internet has to offer.
Yours,
Adam Taylor
