ettenähtavus

Ettenähtävyys is a Finnish neologism used to describe the phenomenon of pre-visibility—the degree to which content, information, or features are designed to be perceived before direct interaction. The term appears in discussions within media studies, user experience design, and digital ethics, where researchers and practitioners consider how anticipation and staged disclosure shape user understanding and behavior.

Etymology and scope: The word blends nä täv y y s (visibility) with a prefix-like ette-, evoking “before” or “preliminary.” It is not part of standard Finnish vocabulary, and its meaning is not fixed; different writers frame ettenähtävyys as either anticipatory visibility in design or as a measure of disclosure timing in communication.

Contexts and usage: In UX, high ettenähtävyys can refer to interface cues that prepare users for upcoming features before they become available, aiding learning and reducing surprise. In marketing, teaser campaigns aim to increase ettenähtävyys by pacing information release. In privacy debates, concerns arise when critical data practices become visible only after users take action, which can undermine informed consent.

Assessment: Researchers may study ettenähtävyys through timing of content exposure, onboarding paths, and user expectations; tools include surveys, A/B testing, and eye-tracking.

Critique: Critics argue that the term is vague and context-dependent, risking miscommunication. For rigorous use, authors should clearly define and operationalize ettenähtävyys in their study.

See also: visibility; disclosure; user onboarding; privacy-by-design.