Hi @Liam-Shopify Getting back to this while I’m complaining about the missing button to send a collaborator request. Now that we must use the new dashboard for some operations that are no longer possible on the old partner dashboard it’s even more of an issue.
I wanted to point out that we are not just petty people complaining about something small.
Also as the voice of an expert often better heard than the ones of random people, I asked the “trusted expert” I had under my hand (chatgpt) to explain it to you, in case it has stronger impact
Question: Some people say they are not comfortable with a dark theme on the web. Is that a documented issue, why ?
Answer
Yes. Discomfort with dark themes is a well-documented phenomenon in usability, vision science, and accessibility research. While many users prefer dark mode aesthetically or for low-light environments, others report reduced readability, eye strain, headaches, or simply slower reading.
Some of the main reasons are:
1. Lower readability for many people
For most people with normal vision, dark text on a light background is slightly easier to read than light text on a dark background, especially for long-form reading.
This is related to a phenomenon called positive polarity (dark-on-light) versus negative polarity (light-on-dark). Multiple studies have found that positive polarity often leads to:
One explanation is that the pupil tends to constrict more when viewing a bright background, which increases optical sharpness.
2. Halation or “glow” effects
Light text on a dark background can appear to “bleed” or glow, especially:
-
On lower-quality displays
-
For people with astigmatism
-
When text is small or thin
Users may describe this as:
This is one of the most common complaints from people who dislike dark mode.
3. Astigmatism makes dark mode harder
Eye care professionals often point out that people with astigmatism can experience more visual distortion when reading white text on black backgrounds.
The bright characters can appear to spread into the dark surroundings, reducing perceived sharpness.
Someone may not even know they have mild astigmatism; they just notice that dark mode feels tiring.
4. Dark mode is not always better for eye strain
A popular belief is that dark mode universally reduces eye strain. The evidence is more nuanced.
Dark mode can help:
But in normal daytime conditions:
-
Many users report greater effort reading dense text
-
Contrast adaptation can become uncomfortable
-
The eyes may work harder to resolve fine details
5. Accessibility concerns
Some groups benefit from dark mode, while others do not.
Examples:
-
Some users with light sensitivity (photophobia) strongly prefer dark themes.
-
Some users with cataracts or certain visual impairments find light themes easier to read.
-
Users with dyslexia show mixed preferences; there is no universally best theme.
This is why modern accessibility guidance generally recommends offering both options rather than forcing one.
6. Habit and cognitive familiarity
For decades, people have read:
-
Books
-
Newspapers
-
Printed documents
All of these use dark text on a light background.
Even when visual performance differences are small, familiarity can make light themes feel more natural for prolonged reading.
What do major UI guidelines say?
Organizations such as Google Material Design and Apple Human Interface Guidelines support dark mode, but they generally recommend:
-
Maintaining high contrast
-
Avoiding pure white text on pure black
-
Testing readability carefully
-
Providing a user choice whenever possible
Practical takeaway
The consensus is not that dark themes are “bad.” Rather:
-
Dark mode often works well for short sessions, low-light environments, and OLED power savings.
-
Light mode remains superior for many people during long reading or work sessions.
-
Individual differences (especially astigmatism, age, visual sensitivity, and environment) are significant.
That’s why many successful products today default to a light theme, a system-following theme, or allow users to switch freely rather than enforcing dark mode.