Why Dark Mode Reduces Your Productivity

Dark mode is popular, but can have a negative impact on your productivity. When using dark mode, you'll read slower and spot fewer errors.

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Sources used to make this video:

[hanspeterkarsten]

I worked for Air Traffic Control. About 10 years ago they redesigned the Controller Work Positions. A survey showed that dark targets on a light background are best suited for this kind of work. I am glad to have this video now which supports the motion of the redesign.

[DodZz]

All I know is, white backgrounds on a computer screen hurts my eyes. So I apply the darkest mode possibly

[narutokunn]

I use dark mode everywhere because white screen hurts my eyes. But I mostly switched to light mode whenever I was reading something on the screen because I always found it harder to concentrate. I guess now I know that it isn't my problem but instead a dark mode problem. Thanks for articulating.

[uniqueflowsnake]

Erik is so into dark mode all his comments getting shadow banned on youtube? sad

[WarrenMarshallBiz]

I can't write code in light mode. I just can't. I've tried. It doesn't click with my brain for some reason.

[RafaelPerezD]

One thing that convinced me to use light mode more is some research - mentioned by Andrew Huberman - related to being more productive and alert when exposed to light in the morning. I'm already unfocused enough, so anything helps here.

[mrboags]

Black is better at night. I'm a driver less pressure on the eyes.
Plus I feel things stand out with dark mode.
Just my opinion

[robertpiosik]

Regarding power consumption in oled displays; shade of gray pixels consume less power than white pixels.

[paineoftheworld]

Has Erik become so Dark that I can't find him? Your theories on dark mode don't have data of REPUDIBLE sources to back it up. Tidbits?! Really?! And apparently Piepenbrock has an axe to grind or they're putting you on. I mean come on, how may Pippybrockers are there out there?

[highdefinist]

Wow, the comments in this comment section are retarded even by Youtube standards.

What is so surprising about there being "things which feel good, yet are bad for productivity/unhealthy/bad in some other way"? I will also probably continue to use dark mode, because I find it more pleasant, but I don't see the point in deluding myself that it makes me "more productive".

[asecxcvi]

I'd rather to have a slight worse performance than to have even less by looking a white screen and getting a headache in 15 minutes...

[piconano]

But how does it make me stupid like you claim in your clickbait?

[louis_makes]

Not liking the clickbait title. That hurts the content, which is mediocre at best and imho not up to your usual standard

[szabo_bakter]

I've encountered a new bug on YouTube. When I write a comment, I can't see the text because both the letters and the background are black. It only appears after I send the comment. A lot of people on Reddit are struggling with the same issue. I hope they fix this bug soon.

[TranNguyen-swwu]

I too use light mode during the day and dark mode during the night, with occasional light yellow or gray background as some apps allow. I find light yellow background most effective for when I need to compose extra long documents, or for reading stories.

[hrlrl]

Your eyes can only handle so much brightness. Unless you like migraines and red eyes of course.

[pressrepeat]

But what about flickering fatigue caused by PWM, how does that get affected by dark mode? OLEDs can only be on or off, so wouldn’t dark mode lead to less flickering? As the black pixels stay off.

[WayneShaw-rj]

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[UrbanAndPark_YT]

I will disliked this because dark mode didn't mean stupid
It never hurt my eye
I will still use dark mode
>:( 🤡

[ViceKnIghtTA]

I just came from the SUPERB video you made to clearly explain Symmetric vs. Asymmetric encryption. You deserve a gold medal for that one.

And then....I came to this video. You deserve a VERY BIG facepalm for this highly subjective topic.
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