No! This feels wrong. I’m not doing it because it makes no sense. I read left-to-right, and therefore also navigate the web left-to-right.
Quite a few blogs are placing the “newer posts” button/link on the left and the “older posts” one on the right. It just feels unnatural to me.
I’m right-handed and, for me, the natural way to browse to the next page is by clicking the “next” link or button, which historically has always been on the right. This is similar to turning a page in a book. I’m assuming (I don’t know, and I don’t really care) that this is because most of the world is right-handed. And, I’m using my right hand to move the mouse.
The same universal understanding applies to apps: swipe right to go to next and swipe left to go back.
This is how it’s always been. I have no idea who thought of this or when this movement started and who dreamt this one up, but it is weird! It’s back-to-front. Is it to somehow differentiate the Internet from a physical book? I’m, erm, scratching my head here!
I’m sure that there might be a good reason for it, but I’m not researching this or ever contemplating changing my navigation. “Next” and “newer” are staying on the right forever, and “previous” and “older” are staying on the left. Forever.
And if anyone ever mentions that having “next” on the right discriminates against left-handed users, I’ll post them that meme of Batman giving Robin a slap!
Not all design principles make sense…has anyone seen a Cybertruck?
Going from Point B to Point A is always backwards, previous, older, or reverse chronological order. Always left. Like turning the hands on a clock backward; they move to the left. And the opposite is the opposite is the opposite. It’s the law of the universe, for goodness’ sake!
Why, Internet and IndieWeb? Tell me why!