Nielsen Norman Group

World Leaders in Research-Based User Experience

Why Didn't People Scroll? The Illusion of

Completeness
Summary: In testing, we o en see users who don't scroll a web page even though there is
much useful info below the fold. O en, the reason is "the illusion of completeness" which
causes users to believe that they are seeing all there is.
2 minute video by Aurora Harley Topics: Web Usability

Why Didn't People Scroll? The Illusion of Completeness

Related Article: The Illusion of Completeness: What It Is and How to About the Author
Avoid It
Aurora Harley is a
Users can think they see the entire web page, although additional Senior User
content exists o -screen. Designers must help users discover all Experience Specialist
relevant information. with Nielsen Norman
Group. Aurora’s
research and
consulting experience
includes organizations
in a variety of
industries, such as
ecommerce, travel,
healthcare, and B2B