I don't find it to be incomprehensible. I think it makes sense once you get using it, but it's definitely a non-native feel on any OS. I, too, absolutely agree that it's intentional. Keeps the grandmas from using it and once people figure it out there's a great connection to the app - people have invested in it and felt the reward of understanding its intricacies.
Twitters UI developed around how people used Twitter. hashtags, RT, @mention all evolved from the massive userbase. Twitter is a platypus.
Re:Snapchat Passes Twitter in Daily Usage
by ohstopitu on Thursday June 02, 2016 @11:34PM
(#11828126)
Just out or curiosity, what part of snapchat's UI did you find confusing?
Mostly the navigational system is a mess - and feels of duct taped features without ever a desire to go in and clean it up.
Some points from just using it now:
- The strange lower left/lower right hamburger slide out menu things with odd icons. Right one leads to news, left one leads to snaps.
- When you go to the lower, right hamburger thingy - to go "back" there is a camera (not a back chevron/arrow) at the top left. Go experience it - it is weird.
- You can swipe down from the main camera view to get your profile. Took my 31 year old ass a year to discover that.
- The view snap vs. message view is just... no. I know what it does and I still input wrong.
While I think Twitter could improve their UI by leaps and bounds, Snapchat's UI is just incomprehensible. However I'm a strong believer in it being 100% intentional at this point.