Swipe to sprint

User Delight is about adding fun or joyful moments that make the whole experience feel better. Reddit's running mascot animation makes refreshing the feed more enjoyable, so users feel happier waiting.

Gamification encourages engagement by making actions feel playful or rewarding. The mascot's running motion turns a basic refresh into a mini-game, which can boost motivation and habit.

Progressive Disclosure means revealing complexity slowly. The mascot's animation visually guides users on how far to swipe, making the refresh gesture easier to learn without overwhelming new users.

Slack uses a similar pattern, showing motivational messages during pull-to-refresh. Both Slack and Reddit use playful feedback to make waiting less boring and boost user enjoyment.

Apple Fitness+ adds a running stick figure during loading, just like Reddit's running mascot. Both fill waiting time with delightful animation, making short delays feel more fun and less frustrating.