Is Flash Dead?

Posted on October 25, 2018

If your website is still using Flash, it’s time to bury it. Flash, released in 1996, was once the most popular multimedia software on the web. It was used to play animations, audio, videos, and games. Since the web has progressed, so has its technology. HTML5 has become standard for websites, and Flash is no longer needed. In 2011, 28.5% of websites used Flash, but fewer than 7% of sites were using it in 2017.

Most websites still using Flash haven’t been updated in a very long time. “Flash was created during the PC era — for PCs and mice,” according to Steve Jobs. In 2010, Jobs admitted that Adobe Flash needed to die and that Apple would not be supporting it. Apple users haven’t been using Flash for some time now, which is why Adobe plans to kill it at the end of 2020. The web will be a safer place without it.

Here are several reasons why you shouldn’t be using Flash:

1. Flash is not supported on the iPhone and iPad, which means that content is hidden and  iOS users won’t be able to view it. With over 1 billion iOS users, you will lose a huge amount of traffic because of your website’s poor performance.

2. Flash is outdated, which makes it a target for hackers. Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari browsers have disabled it for security reasons. It is recommended that you uninstall Flash to help secure your computer.

3. You are required to install a Flash player to view interactive content, which is most likely not going to happen with users today.

4. Flash slows the browser because of the large file sizes. Web users don’t expect to wait over eight seconds for a page to load, so don’t expect them to stick around.

5. Flash consumes a lot of power. Technology must be fast to accommodate low-power devices. And using Flash can decrease your battery life by as much as 33%.

6. Flash is not designed for touchscreen devices, which means it can only be used with desktop computers. With the use of mobile devices exceeding that of desktops, incorporating Flash into your site is likely to decrease online sales.

7. Flash can harm your search rankings because its content is difficult to index. If you are looking to increase online traffic with SEO, you must use a better alternative like HTML5.

If you are unsure about whether your website uses Flash, you can test it here.

Badie Designs strives to stay at the forefront of design and marketing practices because technology has changed the way consumers view products and services. Contact Badie Designs to learn about how we can improve your website.


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