TON Airdrop: What, Why and UX issues
TON Daily Dose: 2022-05-11
Important Update 12th May
Things are not good. TON Air Drop is turning into a Drop of Air.
First, this is the update we posted yesterday:
We went ahead and released the news after TON Community announced it:
TON Foundation released an airdrop
We found important UX issues, as mentioned below
Technical issues (pesky robots, bad actors) arose
The bot had to be taken offline until the technical issues are fixed
This means that the air drop is postponed, it is on hold. So the steps in this article will not work, for now.
However, it presents an opportunity for the TON Foundation to fix the non-technical issues, which are raised in the below article, before bringing it back.
And it is a reminder that these things should always be tested first, in the wild too, in front of a smaller audience, before putting it in front of the millions.
This in itself causes “once bitten, twice shy” and further negative UX from those who already shared the link to everyone.
Those that could click it, found it difficult due to UX issues
Those that could not, found it just does not work
However, fortunately, it all happened very quickly, so there wasn’t too much spread. Fixing UI issues a day later, a week later, will be much more expensive.
And now today: TON Foundation/Community again released the “Air Drop” but without even heeding any of the advice given warning of the UX problems.
So we can almost guarantee that this air drop won’t achieve objectives.
We even have video recordings of frustrated users within the last hour, that verify this. They wanted to throw their phones in frustration.
Now, to our original article, which is still completely valid:
Web Article updated, see Updates section at the end
Everyone from the newcomer to the so-called experts needs to read this:
Newcomers can skip to the end, the rest, please read in full
First, the supposed purpose: although not stated, and although most generation-Z “crypto” fans think of an airdrop as something free, that just drops down from the air magically on them as they’re “entitled” to it…
There is no such thing as “free money” — this is an investment.
An investment by the TON Foundation and partners, such as Telegram.
An investment in what? And what are the UX issues with it?
The purpose of this T500,000 (one million dollar) investment over the next couple of weeks is the following, and then we’ll deal with what is wrong:
Make as many Telegram users as possible aware that they have a wallet
That they can receive and spend money easily from this wallet
Thus, popularize TON currency
The problem is, as with so many things in the “TON Community” it is geeks producing things for geeks, not the broad unwashed masses, and thus they constantly fall down on UX — User Experience — and its importance.
And they don’t believe us when we scream:
UX, UX, UX!
From the very entry point for most people into TON, the TON Community channel, to the first and foremost tool that most people will end up using with TON, the TON WALLETS, there is a really poor User Experience.
The geeks, the sycophants, many citizens of Tonea, are blissfully unaware of this. Worse, many just don’t want to know, are in denial, do not believe it.
They ignore any and all reports on these issues and don’t work with the most experienced in UX, to fix it. They’re even rude and aggressive when these things are pointed out: a creator-geek likes to think his product is perfect.
Yes, for the creator, and his friends, but not for mass adoption in real life.
TON NEWS will soon give some insight into one small team doing something about this, and why they’ve not turned to the billion dollar TON Fund for help.
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So, what is the problem with the TON Airdrop UX?
No problem at all for those very familiar with TON, wallets and Telegram.
If that’s you, you can collect your extra free TON and be on your merry way, unless you care about actually getting TON out to the masses, since that will ultimately benefit us all, in which case, please read on…
First, a brief description of how it actually does work:
You then click on Start at the bottom of the screen
You then read that message displayed on the screen
You then click on Start again at the bottom of the screen
You then see if there is any red X: pay attention to that
If you haven’t joined the channel, you will click to do that
After that, you can click “Check subscription”
Now you should have a green tick (check) next to that
Now you will attach a wallet, meaning, where to receive TON
Read the clear description of how that works
You can attach the inbuilt Telegram @Wallet or your TON Wallet
Now you can share your own referral link and earn up to 5 more TON
Make an effort to read and follow the instructions carefully, and if you see Start at the bottom of the screen, click it, and again when it appears again.
When you are taken away to join the channel and/or find your TON Wallet address, look for the bot in your chat list, and continue where you left off.
As you see, the “brief” description above, is actually a clear step by step guide.
The Telegram geeks among us have no problem with this, won’t even need those steps, everything will be clear once they click the referral link.
The problem is: the intended masses out there, your friends, family…
For >95% of them, they will absolutely get stuck at step 2, or 4 above.
And so, they will not get to see TON, the Wallet, nor will you get a reward.
Hey, those of you who have spammed everyone out there with you link, do you now understand why you aren’t getting results?
If they’re fellow TON aficionados they’ve already got their airdrop bot
If they’re not Telegram aficionados they’re just stuck, too hard, gave up
So what is the solution?
It’s actually quite simple, in the end. But, experience shows, giving advice when it is not sought, is almost never appreciated.
Meanwhile the clock is ticking, and opportunities to get the 500kT out to the masses, which is where it belongs, are going to waste…
The end result: instead of winning the race against time to get TON in front of the masses, especially outside the Telegram-centric regions (Russia, Iran) we’re just wasting more time, and money…
If we give the UX answer right here and now, simple as it may be, it comes from many decades of expertise and sacrifices in making technology user-friendly to the common man and woman on the street.
This did not come for free: it was a very expensive journey.
So it is not valued, when thrown freely at the feet or hands of those who aren’t even asking for it.
Ask, and you shall receive.
Give, and you shall receive more.
TON Foundation: Please make a good donation to those promoting TON to the wider masses on other platforms, even off platforms, and working to support projects that are creating better UX for onboarding to TON.
Then, ask in our Support Bot.
Receive the assistance to make required changes to the bot texts.
Then, make another donation afterwards, so we can do more!
For those new to TON
Just read the section above with the list of 12 steps, it’s not as bad as it looks. With the steps laid out, as above, it is easy. The point of this article is that it is not self-evident nor easy at all without that work-around list, but could be made much easier and clearer with some changes to the bot.
If you like what we do: support us (button below) and also follow those channels which are distributing TON NEWS, such as @internationalTON.
Thank you!
Update:
The airdrop has been postponed due to some technical difficulties with the bot. This is not the subject matter of this post. We sympathize with the developers and the technical difficulties, and no doubt those will be resolved soon. It could be a load issue, as was experienced by TON Diamonds drop.
However, we sincerely hope that the UX issues will also be fixed at the same time and BEFORE re-announcing the air drop. This is far from certain, but we can only hope. Not fixing those issues, and just putting the bot back online the way it was intended, is not going to result in the intended viral uptake.
Check back to this article for further updates, or subscribe to TON Daily Dose.