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Home
UX Glossary
Social Proof

🙋‍♂️

Social Proof

People adapt their behaviour based on others. Our subconscious shortcut is to use social proof, and look at what others are doing.

Featured in 60 UX Bites

Similar psychology:

Tribalism
Curiosity Gap
User Delight

Likely impacts:

Conversion Rates
Sharing and Referrals
Perception of Value
Purchases
Last updated: 03/11/2026

How to utilise this in your designs

When people pick from unfamiliar options, e.g., airport drop-off areas, you could show what percentage of others chose each one, so social proof points them to a safe pick.

Search results. Ride-hailing destination search lists airport terminals with specific departure doors; the most popular door is labelled "Preferred drop-off" with a share of riders, such as "54% of users", to help choose the right entrance.
Example from
Grab logo
Grab

As someone joins a group, try showing how many people like them are already members, so the social proof feels personally relevant.

Onboarding. Selecting "Fan" for "Welcome! What is your primary platform?" reveals a "+182 people in common" badge on that option, showing how many others share the choice.
Example from
Discord logo
Discord

Right after a choice in onboarding, e.g., picking a voice, consider confirming it with how many others chose the same, so people feel reassured they picked well.

Onboarding confirmation after picking a narrator voice. "Great choice!" is followed by social proof showing how many people listen with that voice this week; the figure changes per voice, "1.5M" for one and "2.3M" for another.
Example from
Speechify logo
Speechify

When asking users to finish an optional setup step, e.g., adding a payment method, it may help to add data-driven social proof showing how many others have done it.

Onboarding. A "Choose a billing method to start hiring the best" step includes a social-proof banner: "More than 57,694 new clients have added a billing method since Feb 1, 2024," encouraging users to add payment details rather than "Skip".
Example from
Upwork logo
Upwork

To encourage people to start an activity, one option is to show how many others are doing it right now, a gentle signal that beginning is normal.

Meditation home screen. A daily session card shows a live count, "668 meditating"; once playing, the player says "You and 671 others are meditating together", creating a sense of shared practice.
Example from
Headspace logo
Headspace

Possible impacts

Showing hesitant users how many people like them have already joined could reassure them that signing up is normal and safe, and may lift conversion rates.

As seen in:
Discord logo
Discord
Discord's social proof during sign-up
Upwork logo
Upwork
A nudge to add a payment method

A real, rising count of supporters or buyers could act as social proof that others trust it, which may encourage more people to pay or donate.

As seen in:
Deliveroo logo
Deliveroo
Larger store available
AllTrails logo
AllTrails
Try it once

Telling users how many others chose the same option could validate their choice through social proof, and might raise how much they value what they picked.

As seen in:
Grab logo
Grab
55% preferred this drop-off
Discord logo
Discord
Discord's social proof during sign-up

Seeing other users nearby offers social proof that the product is popular and worth mentioning, which might increase sharing and referrals.

As seen in:
Duolingo logo
Duolingo
Sharing your checkmate
Spotify logo
Spotify
A well-timed nudge
Profile photo. A circular headshot of a smiling young man with short tousled hair and round glasses, suitable as an author avatar or user profile picture. No interface elements are shown.

Written by Peter Ramsey

Consultant to 100+ companies

Published: 03/09/2023