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Maniphest T278838

Mobile user communication issues ([[Wikipedia:Mobile communication bugs]])
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Description

Communicating with users is critical in order for the community to provide feedback to the edits of new and more seasoned editors alike. This is how people learn, help each other, how they are warned about potential consequences (Block), stopped from making incorrect edits etc.

The share of mobile users has increased significantly over the years, yet the mobile platforms have opted out of implementing the infrastructure for communicating with other users ever since these mobile interfaces were developed. When the mobile interfaces were readonly this wasn't as much of a problem but over the years more and more edit functionality has been implemented yet the communication (and thus feedback loop) has been left in the dust.

This is significantly frustrating the desktop editing community and causing confusion for editors using the mobile platforms.

Enwiki discussion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Village_pump_(WMF)/Archive_4#What_we've_got_here_is_failure_to_communicate_(some_mobile_editors_you_just_can't_reach)

Table adapted from Wikipedia:Mobile communication bugs:

EditorTag"New message" alertOther alertsCustom block messagesPartial block shown as partialEditnotices [1]Custom edit filter messages
Desktop (IP)Orange bar of doomN/AYesYes (?)YesYes
Desktop (User)Miniature orange bar of doom [2]
YesYesYesYes [3]Yes
Mobile Web (IP)Mobile web editNo T240889N/AYesYes (?)Yes via T316178 and Javascript Gadget .Yes
Mobile Web (User)Mobile web edit Looks like other alerts T240976YesYesYesYes via T316178 and Javascript Gadget Yes
iOS (IP)iOS app edit No T312196 N/AUnknownUnknownNo T201596Broken [4]
iOS (User)iOS app editYes (Since June 2022) T274404Yes (Since June 2022) T274404No T275118UnknownNo T201596Broken [4]
Android (IP)Android app editYes (Since Dec 2021) T291481N/ASeems flaky T276149UnknownYes (Since Nov 2021) T201597Yes (Since May 2021) T276139
Android (User)Android app edit Yes (w/ ding+vibrate)Yes (w/ ding+vibrate)Yes (Since June 2021) T276147Yes (Since June 2021) T276147Yes (Since Nov 2021) T201597Yes (Since May 2021) T276139

[1}: See also T201613: Unify 'edit notices' technology stack
[2]: Shown in Vector (default), Monobook, and Modern skins. Looks like other alerts in Timeless and MinerveNeue skins.
[3]: Shown in Vector (default), Monobook and Modern and Timeless skins. Not shown in MinervaNeue skin.
[4]: If the message is at MediaWiki:Abusefilter-warning-foo, the user will see <abusefilter-warning-foo>, and not the content of that page

Related Objects
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StatusSubtypeAssignedTask
 OpenNoneT278838 Mobile user communication issues ([[Wikipedia:Mobile communication bugs]])
 OpenNoneT240889 Mobile IP editors not given any indication that they have new messages
 ResolvedovasilevaT284642 Add yellow talk page message banner to non-main namespace pages on mobile
 ResolvedBUG REPORTovasilevaT295429 "You have new messages" alert not showing on testwiki when logged out
 ResolvedovasilevaT295910 Yellow talk page message banner appearing inconsistently on edit page
 Resolved• JMinorT274404 Support notifications on the iOS app
 DuplicateNoneT271856 As a new editor, I need a way to set my notification preferences
 Resolved• JMinorT272499 As someone with notifications turned on, I want notifications to lead me to somewhere that is actionable / appropriate
 Resolved• JMinorT274305 Experimental mocks of notification center messages
 ResolvedSpikeTsevenerT284237 [Spike]: Notification content
 ResolvedSpikeTsevenerT284238 [Spike]: Notification Receipt Questions
 ResolvedSpike• DmantenaT285348 [Spike]: Explore breaking Push Notifications into Local Notifications
 ResolvedSpikeTsevenerT284239 [Spike]: App Notification Center Read/Write Questions
ResolvedSpike• DmantenaT284255 [Spike]: Notification Navigation Design Questions
 ResolvedNoneT285417 Connect testing flows for push notification development
 ResolvedLGotoT285440 Provide a way to trigger all Echo notification types during development and testing
 Resolved• JMinorT286607 As someone who uses an iPad, I want to be able to access my in-app notification center on my iPad
 Resolved• JMinorT287298 Build data controller for importing and refreshing notification center content
 Resolved• JMinorT297639 Create icons for projects that are not currently represented in the OOUI icon set
 Resolved• JMinorT287302 Build mark as read/unread functionality into data controller
 ResolvedTsevenerT287305 Build out push subscription and registration flow
 DuplicateNoneT271855 As an existing editor I need a way to opt into notifications
DuplicateNoneT287307 Re-enable in the news notification
 Resolved• JMinorT287308 Notification Center UI
 Resolved• JMinorT288652 [Notifications] Add "Bell" button to navigation bar
 Resolved• JMinorT288654 [Notifications] Add empty Notifications Center
 Resolved• JMinorT288658 [Notifications] Implement all notification cell types
 Resolved• JMinorT288662 [Notifications] Display notifications in Notifications Center
 Resolved• JMinorT288665 [Notifications] Add Mark as Read functionality
 DeclinedNoneT288835 Loading state for notifications center table
 Resolved• JMinorT288668 [Notifications] Add empty state view to Notifications Center
 Resolved• JMinorT288669 [Notifications] Update display logic for notifications bell state
 Resolved• JMinorT288670 [Notifications] Add primary actions for cells
 Resolved• DmantenaT288687 [Notifications] Add secondary actions for cells (swipe + swipe menu)
Resolved• JMinorT288688 [Notifications] Update Settings > Notifications view
 Resolved• JMinorT288692 [Notifications] Present alert to user when they log out in Settings > Account
 Resolved• JMinorT288694 [Notifications] Add app icon badging
 DeclinedNoneT288868 [Notifications] Separate notifications by type in tabs
 OpenNoneT288869 [Notifications] Add Search Bar
 Resolved• JMinorT288870 [Notifications] Add read status filtering
 Resolved• JMinorT288873 [Notifications] Add inbox filtering
 Resolved• JMinorT288874 [Notifications] Update toolbar status text depending on state and configuration
 InvalidNoneT288877 [Notifications] Add Trending current events push notification
 OpenNoneT291019 [notifications] Remove read notifications from iOS Notification Center?
 Resolved• JMinorT287310 Add Notification Service Extension to populate push notification content
 Resolved• JMinorT287033 "Default" notification handling on iOS
Resolved• JMinorT285353 Experimental mock for a "no new data" notification
 OpenNoneT287311 Add Notification Content Extension for rich notification content and quick actions
 Resolved• JMinorT287766 Offline support and copy for notifications
 Resolved• JMinorT287768 Log in, log out and 'Explore feed turned off' experiences for Notifications on iOS
 Resolved• JMinorT287970 Mark Echo notifications and alerts as seen when opening app notification center
 Resolved• JMinorT288776 Accessibility audit for iOS Notifications
 Resolved• JMinorT296779 [Notifications]: Make notifications cell swipe actions accessible via VoiceOver
 Resolved• JMinorT288777 Audit color usage for iOS reading themes in the Notifications center
 DuplicateNoneT288779 Notifications copy doc
 Resolved• JMinorT288781 Usability testing of the Notifications feature of the iOS app
 ResolvedcmadeoT290682 Diary study for notifications feature on the iOS app
 OpenNoneT302452 As a contributor to sister projects, I want to be able to see my frequently edited projects included in my Notifications Inbox, even if I have no un-read messages
 Resolved• JMinorT302453 Consistent tap throughs: As an editor, it's confusing to not know where a notification tap through is going to lead to
 OpenNoneT303476 Allow for paging up and down in the detail view of Notifications
 Resolved• JMinorT302454 Update notification badge color: It's hard for me to tell when I have a new notification due to the color of the badge in the app
 Resolved• JMinorT302455 Updates to read/unread states for notifications: As a contributor, I would like it to be easier for me to tell my read and unread messages apart, especially in dark mode.
StalledNoneT302026 As a contributor I want granular control over my push notifications
OpenNoneT291003 Inform users that Web subscriptions override app inbox settings
 ResolvedMazevedoT288693 [Notifications] Add first time user Explore feed information card
 OpenBUG REPORTNoneT302456 [Bug] Notification count can differ across web and iOS
 ResolvedJTannerWMFT302522 [Bug] Tap throughs from notification center on talk pages do not lead to expected section
 Resolved• JMinorT302609 [Bug] Ensure that push notifications are being sent in a timely manner and are receivable on device
 OpenNoneT302613 Support native access to key project pages (Meta, Village pump, personal pages)
 OpenFeatureNoneT302615 VisualEditor for Wikipedia iOS app
 OpenNoneT165382 Update the "W" app icon to be i18n-friendly
 OpenNoneT220541 As an editor of Wikipedia on iOS I would like to be able to easily upload media into an article
 OpenNoneT302632 Improve coverage for Places on non-EN wikis by using Wikidata coordinates
 Resolved• JMinorT290683 Usability testing of Notifications feature on iOS app with new contributors (via UserTesting.com)
 DuplicatecmadeoT296787 Updates to Notifications cell design
ResolvedOTichonovaT296788 Updates to Notifications filters
 Resolved• JMinorT297331 Usability testing of Notification Center findings
 Resolved• JMinorT297746 Updates to Notification Cells based on usability testing findings
 InvalidNoneT297747 Updates to filters and empty states from usability testing findings
Resolved• JMinorT288773 [notifications] edge and error cases, user education
 Resolved• JMinorT287628 Handle tap through of native notifications shown while app is open
 ResolvedJTannerWMFT303218 As an editor I want to be warned before I close the editing mode if I have made modifications to the Wikitext
 ResolvedTsevenerT291383 [Notifications]: Tackle any straggling TODO comments
 ResolvedBUG REPORTJTannerWMFT275118 iOS app does not show block messages
 ResolvedDbrantT276147 Android application does not show block messages
 OpenNoneT201595 Mobile frontend web does not present edit notices
 ResolvedppelbergT291893 Show edit notices within the New Discussion Tool on mobile
OpenppelbergT313278 [SPIKE] Evaluate use of EditNotices across projects
 OpenMNeislerT313279 [Impact Analysis] Evaluate Impact of introducing mobile edit notices
 DuplicateNoneT316177 [Config Change] Make upstream mobile edit notice implementation available at en.wiki
ResolvedEsandersT312587 Show edit notices within mobile editing interfaces
 ResolvedppelbergT312299 [SPIKE] Review EditNoticesOnMobile.js gadget
 ResolvedppelbergT344465 Instrument edit notices (desktop + mobile)
 ResolvedDLynchT316178 [Config Change] Make upstream mobile edit notice implementation available at all wikis
 ResolvedBUG REPORTJTannerWMFT201596 iOS app does not present edit notices
 ResolvedDbrantT276139 Android application does not display custom AbuseFilter messages
 ResolvedDbrantT201597 Android app does not present edit notices
 ResolvedFeaturematmarexT45683 Create API to expose editnotices
 ResolvedmatmarexT201613 Unify 'edit notices' technology stack
 ResolvedppelbergT281544 MobileFrontend doesn't show AbuseFilter messages when editing a talk page
 OpenBUG REPORTNoneT312196 IP editors should receive a notification if their talk page has been edited
 ResolvedBUG REPORTJTannerWMFT327418 AbuseFilter does not show contents of message
 OpenBUG REPORTNoneT360236 Parsing/display issues with coffee roll / talk page banners

Event Timeline

SD0001 created this task.Mar 30 2021, 2:52 PM
Restricted Application added a subscriber: Aklapper. · View Herald TranscriptMar 30 2021, 2:52 PM
SD0001 added projects: Notifications, iOS-app-Bugs.Mar 30 2021, 2:57 PM
SD0001 updated the task description. (Show Details)
Restricted Application added projects: Growth-Team, Wikipedia-iOS-App-Backlog. · View Herald TranscriptMar 30 2021, 2:57 PM
SD0001 added a subscriber: suffusion_of_yellow.Mar 30 2021, 3:03 PM
FonAfon subscribed.EditedMar 30 2021, 5:05 PM

https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Cafenea#Notificare_mesaj_nou_pe_mobil_pentru_IP-uri

This issue was also discussed at Romanian Wikipedia.

SD0001 added a subtask: T240889: Mobile IP editors not given any indication that they have new messages.Mar 30 2021, 8:03 PM
SD0001 added a subtask: T274404: Support notifications on the iOS app.
SD0001 added a subtask: T275118: iOS app does not show block messages.
SD0001 added a subtask: T276147: Android application does not show block messages.Mar 30 2021, 8:06 PM
Jack_Frost subscribed.Mar 30 2021, 8:15 PM
Proc subscribed.Mar 30 2021, 9:32 PM
Diannaa subscribed.Mar 30 2021, 11:07 PM
Thryduulf subscribed.Mar 31 2021, 3:43 AM
TheDJ subscribed.Mar 31 2021, 2:53 PM
TheDJ added a subtask: T201595: Mobile frontend web does not present edit notices.Mar 31 2021, 2:59 PM
TheDJ added a subtask: T201596: iOS app does not present edit notices.
TheDJ updated the task description. (Show Details)Mar 31 2021, 3:09 PM
SD0001 added projects: Mobile, Wikipedia-Android-App-Backlog, AbuseFilter.Mar 31 2021, 4:05 PM
SD0001 updated the task description. (Show Details)
Restricted Application added a subscriber: Masumrezarock100. · View Herald TranscriptMar 31 2021, 4:05 PM
Jdlrobson moved this task from Needs triage to Triaged on the Mobile board.Mar 31 2021, 9:58 PM
GeneralNotability subscribed.Mar 31 2021, 10:06 PM
MMiller_WMF subscribed.Apr 1 2021, 11:20 PM
Valereee subscribed.Apr 5 2021, 4:10 PM

I tried to fix a typo and a notice came up that said I had been blocked from editing. There was no explanation why, nor any indication of how I could find out why. How can I find out? This has happened before, and I think it happens when I'm not using WiFi.

D941EFA0-8E41-423B-B6D4-18E42D29B2C5.png (2×1 px, 715 KB)

LGoto moved this task from Needs Triage to Product Backlog on the Wikipedia-Android-App-Backlog board.Apr 5 2021, 4:12 PM
SD0001 added a subtask: T276139: Android application does not display custom AbuseFilter messages.Apr 5 2021, 6:03 PM
SD0001 added a subtask: T201597: Android app does not present edit notices.
LGoto moved this task from Needs Triage to Tracking on the Wikipedia-iOS-App-Backlog board.Apr 5 2021, 6:40 PM
JTannerWMF added projects: Editing-team, OWC2020.Apr 5 2021, 8:06 PM
JTannerWMF added subscribers: ppelberg, JTannerWMF, Esanders and 2 others.
GeneralNotability added a comment.Apr 6 2021, 12:10 AM
In T278838#6972791, @Valereee wrote:

I tried to fix a typo and a notice came up that said I had been blocked from editing. There was no explanation why, nor any indication of how I could find out why. How can I find out? This has happened before, and I think it happens when I'm not using WiFi.

Probably a big rangeblock on your carrier, @Valereee ...but it's hard to tell the actual block reason, now, isn't it!

Proc added a comment.Apr 6 2021, 1:39 AM
In T278838#6974614, @GeneralNotability wrote:
In T278838#6972791, @Valereee wrote:

I tried to fix a typo and a notice came up that said I had been blocked from editing. There was no explanation why, nor any indication of how I could find out why. How can I find out? This has happened before, and I think it happens when I'm not using WiFi.

Probably a big rangeblock on your carrier, @Valereee ...but it's hard to tell the actual block reason, now, isn't it!

Sounds like it might be an iOS variant of T276149?

Proc updated the task description. (Show Details)Apr 6 2021, 1:42 AM
NightWolf1223 subscribed.Apr 12 2021, 1:29 AM
TheDJ added a subscriber: Quiddity.EditedApr 12 2021, 10:43 AM

A recent example of these problems is User:CejeroC. He was a productive editor on the Android app, but kept adding colours to infoboxes against the wishes of the community. But because he couldn't read any of the messages that were being sent to him he got blocked. And likely he now doesn't even understand why he was blocked either, because of T276147: Android application does not show block messages. See also https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Jimbo_Wales&oldid=1017351614#The_tragic_case_of_User:CejeroC

Read -> Communicate -> Review -> Edit...
I've tried explaining this to WMF people so many times over the last 10 years (@Quiddity can back me up on this). From micro contribution concepts to short descriptions to wiki education dashboard and mobile edits, this mistake is made again and again. WMF should really document this as an essential part of their product design and roadmap prioritisation.

Novem_Linguae subscribed.Apr 12 2021, 11:23 PM
ovasileva subscribed.Apr 13 2021, 8:09 AM
Rummskartoffel subscribed.Apr 13 2021, 1:11 PM
MBinder_WMF added a project: Growth-Team-Filtering.Apr 15 2021, 6:47 PM
stwalkerster subscribed.Apr 25 2021, 10:46 PM
SD0001 added a subtask: T281544: MobileFrontend doesn't show AbuseFilter messages when editing a talk page.May 1 2021, 6:33 PM
cooltey closed subtask T276139: Android application does not display custom AbuseFilter messages as Resolved.May 26 2021, 4:51 PM
Mathglot subscribed.May 31 2021, 8:15 AM
Legoktm renamed this task from Mobile user communication issues to Mobile user communication issues (WP:THEYCANTHEARYOU).Jun 2 2021, 5:52 PM
Sharvaniharan closed subtask T276147: Android application does not show block messages as Resolved.Jun 9 2021, 5:10 PM
Nintendofan885 subscribed.Jul 26 2021, 11:24 AM
JohnFromPinckney subscribed.Aug 11 2021, 2:14 PM
Bradv subscribed.Aug 12 2021, 3:36 AM
Asartea subscribed.Sep 12 2021, 8:18 AM
L235 subscribed.Sep 13 2021, 11:39 PM
JTannerWMF mentioned this in T291481: Determine approach for notifications for IP Editors on Android.Sep 21 2021, 11:11 AM
Firestar464 subscribed.Nov 19 2021, 6:01 AM
Novem_Linguae unsubscribed.Nov 23 2021, 1:08 PM
cooltey closed subtask T201597: Android app does not present edit notices as Resolved.Nov 29 2021, 7:07 PM
PorkchopGMX subscribed.Dec 22 2021, 3:12 PM
Enterprisey subscribed.Dec 28 2021, 4:55 AM
ppelberg closed subtask T281544: MobileFrontend doesn't show AbuseFilter messages when editing a talk page as Resolved.Feb 18 2022, 3:04 AM
scblr unsubscribed.Mar 10 2022, 10:21 AM
Remagoxer subscribed.Apr 15 2022, 11:36 PM
MarioGom subscribed.Apr 20 2022, 10:36 AM
• JMinor closed subtask T274404: Support notifications on the iOS app as Resolved.May 6 2022, 8:11 PM
TheDJ added a subtask: T312196: IP editors should receive a notification if their talk page has been edited.Jul 6 2022, 7:59 AM
TheDJ updated the task description. (Show Details)
matmarex subscribed.Jul 7 2022, 11:46 PM
Nintendofan885 updated the task description. (Show Details)Jul 15 2022, 6:39 PM
Nintendofan885 updated the task description. (Show Details)Jul 15 2022, 6:44 PM
Matthewrbowker subscribed.Aug 14 2022, 8:54 PM
matmarex edited projects, added DiscussionTools; removed OWC2020.Sep 8 2022, 4:49 PM
ppelberg updated the task description. (Show Details)Nov 17 2022, 1:49 AM
ppelberg moved this task from Backlog to Triaged on the DiscussionTools board.Nov 17 2022, 4:20 PM
lettherebedarklight subscribed.Nov 27 2022, 2:24 PM
JTannerWMF added a subtask: T327418: AbuseFilter does not show contents of message.Jan 19 2023, 4:37 PM
Esanders renamed this task from Mobile user communication issues (WP:THEYCANTHEARYOU) to Mobile user communication issues ([[Wikipedia:Mobile communication bugs]]).Jan 19 2023, 4:44 PM
Esanders updated the task description. (Show Details)
Lomrjyo subscribed.Jan 19 2023, 7:49 PM
JTannerWMF closed subtask T327418: AbuseFilter does not show contents of message as Resolved.Mar 16 2023, 4:09 PM
JTannerWMF closed subtask T275118: iOS app does not show block messages as Resolved.
JTannerWMF closed subtask T201596: iOS app does not present edit notices as Resolved.
JTannerWMF added a comment.Apr 4 2023, 9:32 PM

Hey @SD0001 we did some work in iOS regarding things mentioned in this table including showing the AbuseFilter messages which is listed as broken #4 in the table. Just wanted to share the task number for that work since it was in the table above T327418.

ppelberg updated the task description. (Show Details)Oct 11 2023, 9:05 PM
ppelberg updated the task description. (Show Details)
HNordeenWMF added a subtask: T360236: Parsing/display issues with coffee roll / talk page banners.Mar 19 2024, 7:09 PM
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