Sensory erasure

The systematic marginalization or elimination of non-visual sensory modalities in the design of technologies, interfaces, and information systems. Sensory erasure occurs when platforms treat visual interaction as the only legitimate or primary mode of engagement, rendering auditory, haptic, tactile, and other sensory channels as supplemental afterthoughts rather than equal pathways to access. This goes beyond individual inaccessibility — it reflects a structural design logic that privileges sight as the default way of knowing, communicating, and participating in digital life. Examples include messaging platforms that rely on visual indicators (blue ticks, typing animations) without auditory equivalents, social media built around image sharing without integrated description workflows, and notifications conveyed entirely through color or spatial position.