Ivory is a Mastodon client, and their account switcher has a few interesting mechanics.

The standard one is that you can tap on your avatar, and get a menu in response:

But you can also drag down on the avatar, and get a different reaction:

This, I believe, is meant to be a slightly faster way. The settings option is gone to simplify, and the whole thing looks and feels more… gestural, in lack of a better word.

But I think it also serves one more purpose. The moment I saw this, I thought to myself “I wonder if I could just swipe on the icon itself?” and, lo and behold, this is actually possible:

Why does it matter?

I think for some power users of social media – perhaps people doing it professionally – you switch accounts all the time, and investing in this interaction being fast and smooth is important.

This whole small interaction system feels similar to switching apps on a Mac. You can choose an app in your dock with a mouse (the slow, but well-lit way). You can then learn to use ⌘⇥ and hold ⌘ to get to it quicker from a temporary menu. Eventually, you will also start tapping ⌘⇥ quickly, skipping any visible UI surface altogether.

There is also something great in seeing an interface that grows with you, or one where you can say “I wonder if…” based on your prior interactions and expectations, and the interface actually rewarding you for that thought.