A growing number of websites have begun to offer dark mode, basically a dark theme. Dark mode has a combination of blacks, slate grey, and deep blue. Most dark modes have a black background with a white font. The idea behind dark mode is to make it easier on the eyes at night. You may even use it yourself on your smartphone or computer. The question is, will the dark theme improve user experience (UX) and will it help to improve your website’s search engine optimization? Here are the pros and cons of offering dark mode on your website.
The Pros of Using Dark Mode
SEO
While Google has stated that it does not (at this time) have its crawlers detect dark mode as part of their search return page rankings (SERP), it does not mean that it can’t benefit your SEO. Dark mode is popular, if not it would not currently be offered on every mobile device and OS. So what does that mean? It means by offering it; you are giving visitors to your site an option that they may want; you are in fact improving their experience. Improved user experience has been shown to mean lower bounce rates and return visits; both of which will be noticed by search engine crawlers.
User Health
While there is no conclusive evidence showing dark mode can reduce eye strain or help you sleep better at night. There are also a number of medical professionals who support the theories. All you need to do is Google benefits of darker themes to see a plethora of opinions on the subject.
Less eyestrain means fewer headaches triggered by tired and sore eyes. Who doesn’t want fewer headaches? It could also mean better sleep. The light that we are exposed to from a computer screen may hamper secretion of melatonin, which is a hormone needed for sleep. If you doubt melatonin’s impact on sleep, you only have to look at the sale of supplements containing the hormone and the number of studies that have proven the impact melatonin has on sleep.
The Cons of Using Dark Mode
While many laud the reduction of eye strain by dark mode, a number of separate studies conducted between 2013 and 2016 show that the opposite to be true. The studies showed that not only did it increase eye strain, but it also made people less accurate with what they read.
Another suspected issue with dark mode is connected to its lack of light. Studies in places such as Finland, Norway, and Alaska have shown that prolonged periods with a lack of exposure to light can bring on depression. Some medical professionals worry that it will deprive users of light they may need, especially if they work most of the day indoors and have little exposure to natural light.