Is Flash dead?

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 the technology that is being used. HTML5 has become standard for websites and Flash is no longer needed. In 2011, 28.5% of websites used Flash; and last year (2017), under 7% of websites were using the software.

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 the software. 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. 1. Flash is not supported on the iPhone and iPad which mean iOS users won’t be able to view your Flash content because it is hidden. With over 1 billion iOS users, you will lose a huge amount of traffic because of your poor website performance.
2. 2. Flash is outdated software which makes it a target for hackers. Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari browsers have disabled it for security reasons. It is recommended to uninstall Flash to help secure your computer.
3. 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. 4. Flash slows down the speed of 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. 5. It also consumes a lot of power. Technology must be fast for low power devices. Flash can kill your battery life and no one would like that. Using Flash can decrease your battery life as much as 33%.
6. 6. Flash is not designed for touch screen devices which means it can only be used with desktop computers. With mobile devices exceeding desktop usage, this will decline online sales for your business if you are using Flash.
7. 7. Flash can harm your search rankings because it is difficult to index this content. If you are looking to increase online traffic with SEO, you must use a better alternative like HTML5.

If you are unsure if 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 how we can improve your website.

Taneka Badie is the owner of Badie Designs, an Atlanta based creative agency. For further details about this graphic design agency in Atlanta please visit the website.