Level: Basic
The concept of "above the fold" gets both overstated and dismissed too quickly, and the reality sits somewhere more nuanced in between.
Visitors Do Scroll, But First Impressions Still Matter
Modern visitors are comfortable scrolling, which means content below the fold absolutely gets seen — but what's immediately visible still shapes the crucial first impression.
The Fold Itself Is No Longer a Fixed Line
With such a wide range of device and screen sizes, there's no single consistent "fold" position anymore, which makes designing rigidly around one specific cutoff less useful than it once was.
Focus on a Strong Opening Section, Not a Strict Cutoff
Rather than obsessing over exactly what fits before an assumed fold, prioritize making the entire opening viewport compelling enough to encourage further scrolling.
Next step: Use the Webpage Screen Resolution Simulator to check what actually appears in the initial viewport across different device sizes before assuming where your fold really falls.