15:57

Hrmpf! I started working on bringing app reviews to Raccoon. I’d rather not implement this. The more you dig into the API, the more you realize that this is nothing but a dark pattern to keep users engaged. It helps no one, but harms everyone.

• You can’t really write a meaningful review of a product on a mobile device. Anything that’s longer than 2-3 sentences takes a lot of effort.
• In case you feel so strongly about the app that spent the effort, you are probably thwarted by the character limit.
• Even if you manage to write an actually useful review, no one will read it, as it gets pushed down by newer reviews and eventually drowns in drivel.
• The only thing that may have a lasting effect is your star rating, but even that is utterly useless as it only contributes to an average based on vastly different rating criteria.
• App developers are given every incentive to game the system by boosting their rankings with fake reviews.

So yes, you won’t make a difference by reviewing an app and you don’t gain any insight from reading reviews either.