The consequences of the consequences of actions.
<aside> ℹ️ A single decision can initiate a series of cause-and-effects, and it can be hard to predict or control them all. Still, as a product community, we have the ethical responsibility of trying to predict the undesirable consequences of the experiences we create as best as we can.
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The Second-Order Effect is sometimes also called the "Cobra Effect." Several years ago, the British government wanted to reduce the number of venomous cobras in India. So they offered a bounty for every dead cobra. At first, it worked, and large numbers of snakes were killed for the reward. But eventually, people began to breed cobras for extra income.
The British government then scrapped the reward program, and cobras became worthless. So cobra breeders set their snakes free, and the wild cobra population further increased. Similar perverse side effects have been documented throughout history (e.g., the "Great Hanoi Rat Hunt").
Second Order Effect in a nutshell.
In other words, this means that a single decision can initiate a series of cause-and-effects, something which we might not have knowledge or control of. Therefore, it can be very difficult for us to predict possible implications of the original decision (unless we are somehow blessed with an all-seeing crystal ball).
As product design and strategy practitioners, we might not necessarily be paying attention to the Second Order Effect when we make certain decisions. This is because we are oblivious to the subsequent consequences (2nd order and thereafter), beyond the desired outcome (1st order) we want to achieve.
The last thing we want in the world is to have our products misused in the worst possible manner. While answering our users’ needs is important, we should always be mindful of the Second Order effect and the potential implications it might bring.
Second-Order Effect in Product Design and Strategy