Recently you may have heard in the news, the mention of the term Dark patterns and wondered what this was. Well, the following is an explanation of dark patterns and the guises the practice may fall under.
Now, to begin with Dark Patterns refer to deceptive and manipulative user interface design techniques used on websites and apps to influence user behavior in ways that benefit the business or organization behind them, often at the expense of the user's interests.
These patterns exploit cognitive biases and psychological vulnerabilities to trick or mislead users into performing actions they may not have intended or understood fully.
1. Misdirection:
Directing a user's attention away from important information or actions through visual cues, wording, or design elements.
2. Forced Continuity:
Making it difficult for users to cancel or unsubscribe from a service, often by hiding the option or creating a complex and confusing cancellation process.
3. Sneak into Basket:
Adding extra items to a user's shopping cart or basket without their consent or clear notification, with the hope that they will not notice and proceed with the purchase.
4. Hidden Costs:
Concealing additional fees, charges, or subscription terms until the user is already committed to a transaction or subscription.
5. Roach Motel: Making it easy for users to enter a service or platform but intentionally difficult to leave or delete their accounts.
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6. Friend Spam: Prompting users to import their contacts or invite friends, only to send unsolicited messages or notifications to those contacts without clear consent.
7. False Urgency: Creating a false sense of urgency or scarcity to pressure users into making quick decisions without fully considering their options.
8. Privacy Zuckering: Manipulating or misleading users into sharing more personal information than they intended by making privacy settings hard to find or understand.
9. Bait-and-Switch: Promising one thing to the user but delivering something different or less desirable, often by manipulating wording, visuals, or terms of service.
10. Confirm-shaming: Guilt-tripping or shaming users into choosing options or taking actions they may not want to by presenting negative or judgmental messages when they try to opt-out or cancel.