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Could somebody please explain this recent trend of "make your blog posts as skinny as possible"? Does this have something to do with iPhones? Is this the web-design equivalent of bumping the font size on a paper to make it look longer than it actually is?

Is there a reason people do this? It's incredibly annoying.

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Some usability studies have claimed that narrow columns are easier to read.

Personally I kind of like it, although it makes me feel sad for my wide-screen monitors.

Saal is right -- narrow columns are easier to read because you don't have to move your eyes as much. Really wide columns make you move your head. It's a bit weird, but apparently it's what the cool kids are doing...so I did it too lol

I read a statistic that 68 characters across is optimal. Don't recall where but I just go with it.

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