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Good afternoon, everyone, my name is Ben Repp, and today I’m presenting my research on CNN’s usability challenges, specifically how personalization, ads, and navigation affect accessibility. CNN is one of the most widely recognized news platforms, offering a highly personalized experience for users through curated content recommendations. However, many users struggle with significant usability issues, including intrusive ads, mandatory registration barriers, and complex navigation that make finding information more difficult than it should be. Understanding these challenges is crucial because accessibility and ease of use directly impact user engagement. If a platform makes accessing content frustrating, users are more likely to abandon it in favor of alternatives that provide a smoother experience. The goal of this research is to examine CNN’s approach to personalization and how it affects usability. I will also identify the key accessibility challenges that users face, analyze frustrations related to ads and navigation, and present recommendations that could significantly improve user experience on the platform. My goals in This study aims to address four major objectives Assess how CNN’s personalization features impact usability – Personalization can enhance engagement, but only if it is well integrated without creating new obstacles. Identify accessibility challenges – Can all users seamlessly navigate and interact with the platform, or are there barriers preventing a smooth experience Analyze frustrations with ads, navigation, and registration requirements – Excessive ads, poor interface design, and mandatory signups can disrupt engagement. Provide actionable recommendations – Proposing changes that will create a more intuitive, accessible, and userfriendly experience for all users. By focusing on these objectives, we can pinpoint the biggest pain points affecting CNN’s platform and develop solutions to enhance usability. The background in CNN is that it excels in delivering personalized content, and tailoring recommendations to users based on their interests and browsing history. This helps create a more engaging experience, ensuring users receive news stories relevant to them. However, despite the benefits of personalization, usability issues arise that negatively impact engagement. Intrusive ads interrupt the reading experience, mandatory signups restrict access to content that was previously free, and complex navigation makes it difficult to find news efficiently. These challenges create frustration among users, leading to complaints about accessibility, engagement, and overall satisfaction with the platform. The goal of my research was to evaluate how users interact with CNN’s app and determine what aspects of the interface present the biggest obstacles. My research methods were To gain an indepth understanding of CNN’s usability challenges, I collected data from three key sources Live Interview – Speaking directly with CNN user to understand their experiences and frustrations with the platform. This conversation provided insight into realworld interactions with CNN’s interface. App Store Reviews – Analyzing feedback from users who have left ratings and reviews about the CNN app, highlighting recurring complaints and praise. Reddit Discussions – Exploring online conversations where users openly discuss their experiences and frustrations with CNN’s usability. By comparing findings from these sources, I was able to identify patterns that revealed the most critical usability concerns affecting engagement. The Evaluation Criteria Rating System To assess CNN’s usability, I developed a structured rating system based on three primary criteria Accessibility – How easily users can navigate the platform and access content. Navigation – The intuitiveness of the interface and whether users can find information efficiently. Personalization – The effectiveness of content recommendations and whether they enhance user engagement. Each criterion was rated using a fourlevel scale 1 – Poor Major usability barriers that significantly disrupt user experience. 2 – Fair Some usability issues that make navigation more difficult but don’t completely block access. 3 – Good Mostly functional with minor concerns. 4 – Excellent Few to no problems, creating an optimal user experience. This system provided a measurable way to evaluate CNN’s interface and identify the areas where usability improvements are necessary. Here are the User Personas based on research findings, I identified three distinct user personas that represent CNN’s audience Cinnamon, 52 – Prefers personalized notifications that deliver relevant news updates quickly but dislike intrusive ads disrupting her reading experience. Bob, 66 – Values fast access to news articles without distractions but finds CNN’s navigation overwhelming due to excessive content blocks and complex menus. Lisa, 32 – Wants unrestricted news access without having to create an account but is frustrated by CNN’s forced registration for previously accessible content. These personas illustrate the diverse user needs and expectations CNN must address to improve its platform. The Interview Summaries and the User feedback from interviews revealed a divided response to CNN’s usability ✅ Positive Feedback Users appreciate CNN’s personalization tools and filtering options. Many find the app’s interface visually appealing, with easy access to curated content. ❌ Negative Feedback Ads disrupt readability, forcing users to navigate around intrusive promotions to access articles. Additionally, many users feel forced into registering accounts to read content that was once freely available, reducing accessibility. These insights highlight the contrast between CNN’s strengths in content personalization and its weaknesses in usability, particularly in accessibility and engagement. My research findings uncovered three major usability concerns Personalization is effective, but signup barriers frustrate users – Many users enjoy tailored content but dislike being forced into account creation. Navigation feels cluttered, making content harder to access – Users struggle with excessive menus and overlapping features. Ads disrupt readability, decreasing user engagement – Intrusive ads interfere with the flow of reading, making the experience frustrating. These findings indicate that CNN must balance personalization with accessibility to create a more intuitive interface. My Recommendations To improve CNN’s user experience, I propose the following solutions Reduce intrusive ads – Ads should be minimized or placed strategically to avoid disrupting the reading flow. Allow basic personalization without mandatory registration – Users should have access to filtering tools without being required to create an account. Streamline navigation – Simplifying the interface will create a more userfriendly browsing experience. Implementing these changes will create a more accessible and enjoyable platform for all users. In Conclusion, CNN’s personalization tools are welldeveloped, but usability suffers due to forced signups, cluttered navigation, and excessive ads. To maintain engagement and ensure accessibility, CNN must prioritize usability improvements. Removing unnecessary barriers, simplifying interface navigation, and reducing distractions will create a smoother, more userfriendly experience. By focusing on usabilityfirst design, CNN can retain its audience and strengthen engagement without compromising accessibility. Thank you for listening, and have a great day.