Only one fifth of the most visited online stores in Germany are partially accessible
One fifth of the most popular webshops in Germany are only partially accessible. This was revealed in a study presented by Google, the support organization "Aktion Mensch," and the Pfennigparade Foundation in Berlin. The situation has worsened compared to the previous year. In 2023, only 25 percent of popular webshops were accessible.
The barriers in online shops affect many people: In Germany, there are 7.8 million people with recognized disabilities, including around 350,000 people with blindness or visual impairments.
Experts examined 71 particularly popular online shops for the study. A significant finding: Only 15 websites could be operated using the keyboard and thus without a mouse. Keyboard accessibility is a fundamental prerequisite for accessible use for many people with disabilities. Additionally, most of the tested websites did not provide a visible focus for the keyboard. This makes it difficult for people with limited vision to identify the currently selected element.
Despite being a major contributor to e-commerce, only a fifth of the fifth most popular webshops in Germany fully cater to the needs of all users. This issue was highlighted in a recent study conducted by Google, Aktion Mensch, and the Pfennigparade Foundation. Regrettably, the situation regarding webshop accessibility has worsened in Germany, with only 25% of popular webshops being fully accessible in 2023.
