2022 was an exciting year for the technology industry. Crypto ended, a certain loquacious billionaire took over a certain social media network, and many jobs were lost. Perhaps a few books will be written about this chaotic journey around the sun.
But otherwise, this grumpy designer prefers to look ahead. It’s a great opportunity to spend the time thinking about what will happen next year – for a light-hearted satire, that is. Making scary predictions is fun and an escape from everyday life. That’s something we can all use.
As in past years, I will focus on things that are important to web designers. It’s about the remarkable tools, people, and technology that keep our industry interesting.
If you’re new, I should also mention that there will be a lot of snark as well. Laughter is the main goal, after all.
Without further ado, let’s take a peek at what will do definitely happen in 2023!
Twitter Introduces Features to Please New Ownership
Twitter has been a great resource for the web design community. It is a means of sharing information and connecting with others. So, it was no surprise that some members were concerned about Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform. Would the famously impulsive billionaire be too disruptive?
In a word: Yes. Musk was the proverbial bull in a crystal shop, firing employees (only to hire some soon after), conducting “code reviews,” and making all sorts of odd announcements.
The bottom line is that Twitter now exists to excite and entertain its new owner. Therefore, new features will be implemented exclusively for this purpose. 2023 will see some big releases, including:
Edit Randomly
While editing tweets requires a paid Twitter Blue account, free users are in luck. A new algorithm will randomly change “unsatisfactory” tweets to better align with Musk’s worldview.
I know what you’re thinking – it’s a ploy to implement the new guy on free speech. But this aspect goes far beyond mere lobbying efforts. Things can get a little personal.
For example, a tweet declaring that sloths are your favorite animal could be edited to match Musk’s fictional choice. Or a photo of you drinking a cup of coffee could be swapped for a can of Diet Coke.
While it may be a slight inconvenience to users, it means the boss won’t have to read anything the least bit unpleasant. That’s better for everyone.
“Troll Me” button.
The new sheriff in town has decided to cut back on content moderation. Some may see this as a bad thing, but the idea behind this decision is quite altruistic. The goal is to make it even easier to connect with others.
That’s why a new “Troll Me” button will appear on every user’s profile. Click on it, and you’ll be presented with a list of pre-approved insults and criticisms. Simply choose the message that suits your needs and be on your way!
If the beta test is successful, watch for the feature to be added to the Reply options as well.
*For new Twitter verification system, I would like to point out that everything above is a parody. Tesla vehicles were not harmed.
New WordPress Plugins Will Take the Trends
WordPress has been around long enough that we’ve seen some trends come and go. From the way plugins tackle specific functionality to a complete rewrite of how themes are built, the menu is always changing.
2023 will be no exception. In fact, plugin developers are going to take things to a whole new level. Look for the following WordPress plugins to find their way onto the market:
Advanced Pro Admin Ads
It seems every year a plugin adds a little more junk to the dashboard with ads. Not only are they more numerous, but they are harder to dismiss. That is if you can dismiss them at all.
Admin Notifications Pro Extended doesn’t want this trend to end. In contrast, he looks to join in the fun!
The plugin ($29.99 per month for a single-site license) will display random, nonsensical ads throughout the dashboard. To maintain the element of surprise, some will deliberately break the WordPress block editor – meaning you won’t be able to save that 1,000 word blog post. That’s life.
Level up with the User Experience Plugin ($100 per 500 page views) to display ads on the front end as well.
#WPDrama generator
There’s nothing like a controversial discussion that stirs things up a bit #WPDrama. But what happens during those quiet moments when no one is arguing?
That’s where the new #WPDrama Generator plugin comes in. It has a choose-your-own-adventure interface to create hot takes, take downs and other hijinks. Publish your creation and use the built-in social sharing tool to stir the virtual pot.
If you’ve taken things too far, use the available WP Apology Generator plugin ($50 per use) to make a mea culpa reviewed by a professional crisis management bot.
Artificial Intelligence will be a Web Designer’s Best Friend
Worried about artificial intelligence (AI) taking over your job? I highly doubt it, because algorithms cannot replace human creativity and sensitivity (yet).
If anything, AI will be there to guide web designers when we need it most. He will turn our weaknesses into strengths. But that’s not all.
I predict that sometime in 2023, we will see an app that leverages AI to tackle our biggest struggle: deal with clients.
Its key features include:
- It automatically links to the client’s website to make the logo bigger;
- Adjusts color contrast ratios to add some “pop” to the look;
- Respond to vague emails by asking for clarification;
- It detects scope and informs clients when a request will cost more money;
- Infiltrates your client’s devices and clears its cache;
- Blocks client access to obsolete web browsers;
Now that’s what I call useful technology. If only he could do something about those clients who don’t pay their bills…
Start the New Year with a Smile
As we prepare for another year, I think it’s important to do so with a sense of humor. Laughter is key to survival in chaotic times. That is as relevant in web design as it is in life.
I hope these predictions help in that quest. By roasting what’s to come, perhaps we can handle the inevitable bumps in the road more easily. If not, at least we can say we had a few quips to begin with.
Here’s to 2023. May you find happiness, success, and something to smile about!
