DEAR LOADING SPINNER, WE NEED TO TALK

Summary from the TLDR Design newsletter

Loading spinners have evolved from symbols of hope into sources of user frustration, representing broken systems rather than actual progress. While spinners endlessly rotate without providing meaningful feedback, alternatives like progress bars and skeleton screens offer users honest, structured information about what's happening. The relationship between users and loading spinners has deteriorated to the point where the spinning icon now triggers anxiety and abandonment rather than patience.