In 2020, as people around the world found themselves confined to their homes, technology became the primary means of communication. Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok surged in popularity for connection and entertainment, while video calling services such as Zoom and Google Meet became the ideal medium for professional communication.
Of course, this meant that people were getting more and more dependent on technology, but as reliance on technology grew, so did discussions around digital accessibility. This heightened awareness led to the introduction of new features—many of which have become second nature to us today—yet were transformative for individuals with disabilities. 🌟
“Accessible design is good design – it benefits people who don’t have disabilities as well as people who do. Accessibility is all about removing barriers and providing the benefits of technology for everyone.”
— Steve Ballmer 💡
With the rise of platforms that curate content through algorithms rather than relying solely on personal connections, anyone with access to technology was able to reach a global audience. This shift opened the door for people with disabilities to share their experiences and raise awareness about accessibility issues beyond their immediate communities. The ease of sharing personal stories and grievances about modern technology allowed individuals to highlight the barriers they face, giving visibility to challenges that may have previously gone unnoticed. The pandemic was a time when many were feeling vulnerable, so there was a heightened sense of empathy and support. People were more receptive to understanding the struggles of others, and as a result, conversations around accessibility gained traction, leading to more inclusive digital spaces and solutions. 🙌
TikTok’s Auto-Captioning Feature and Instagram’s Caption Sticker
The first feature that marked a shift to greater inclusivity on platforms was closed captioning. My first interaction with this was on TikTok—when creators started receiving requests from their audiences to include captions in their TikToks, the company understood the message. In 2021, they introduced an auto-captioning feature. Users can read generated subtitles, and creators can automatically add them to their videos and edit them if needed. 🪄
This update became essential for all digital platforms—Instagram started incorporating auto-captioning in videos and caption-creating stickers for stories and reels, and Zoom introduced live transcription and integration with third-party captioning services, ensuring accessibility during virtual meetings. 🗣️
After that, platforms **added more features like photosensitivity warnings** for TikTok, which alert users of videos containing flashes of light that could trigger seizures for certain individuals. The app also warns creators before they publish videos with effects that could trigger seizures. Similarly, in 2023, Apple implemented a “Dim Flashing Lights” accessibility feature with the iOS 16.4 update. The description in Settings says that, “Video content that depicts repeating flashing or strobing lights will be automatically dimmed. The video timeline will display when flashing lights occur in the content for supported media”. ⚠️
Apple Watch’s AssistiveTouch Feature that uses motion sensors to navigate (https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/05/apple-previews-powerful-software-updates-designed-for-people-with-disabilities/)
Around this time, these considerations expanded into other devices as well. In 2021, Apple introduced new services for iOS users, like AssistiveTouch for Apple Watch that “allows users with upper body limb differences to enjoy the benefits of Apple Watch without ever having to touch the display or controls” and audiogram support which lets users “customize their audio with their latest hearing test results”. 🎧
Today, accessibility has become a top priority for companies with digital platforms, driving continuous innovation to ensure their products and services are more inclusive and usable for everyone. Even the platform you are reading this on, Notion, introduced a significant update earlier this year, allowing users to add alternative text to images. This feature helps those with visual impairments better understand the content of images, demonstrating how digital spaces are evolving to meet the needs of all users. 🤝