Dark pattern: Difference between revisions
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Dark Patterns, also referred to as Deceptive Patterns, refer to deceptive design practices used in websites, applications, or digital interfaces to manipulate users into making decisions that benefit the organization implementing them, often at the expense of the user’s best interests.<ref>Brignull, H., Leiser, M., Santos, C., & Doshi, K. (2023, April 25). Deceptive patterns – user interfaces designed to trick you. deceptive.design. Retrieved May 23, 2025, from https://www.deceptive.design/</ref> Coined by user-experience (UX) specialist Harry Brignull in 2010, the term has since become a critical focus in consumer advocacy, as these practices undermine transparency and user autonomy. | Dark Patterns, also referred to as Deceptive Patterns, refer to deceptive design practices used in websites, applications, or digital interfaces to manipulate users into making decisions that benefit the organization implementing them, often at the expense of the user’s best interests.<ref>Brignull, H., Leiser, M., Santos, C., & Doshi, K. (2023, April 25). Deceptive patterns – user interfaces designed to trick you. deceptive.design. Retrieved May 23, 2025, from https://www.deceptive.design/</ref> Coined by user-experience (UX) specialist Harry Brignull in 2010, the term has since become a critical focus in consumer advocacy, as these practices undermine transparency and user autonomy. | ||
== Types and examples of dark patterns == | ==Types and examples of dark patterns== | ||
Dark patterns can be found across multiple industries and platforms. While some examples overlap or share common tactics, all rely on manipulation and deception to achieve their goals. Listed below are notable types: | Dark patterns can be found across multiple industries and platforms. While some examples overlap or share common tactics, all rely on manipulation and deception to achieve their goals. Listed below are notable types: | ||
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*'''Trick Timers:''' Timers that restart or extend themselves after expiring to simulate urgency and encourage immediate decisions based on false time pressure. | *'''Trick Timers:''' Timers that restart or extend themselves after expiring to simulate urgency and encourage immediate decisions based on false time pressure. | ||
== Why dark patterns are problematic == | ==Dark patterns in games== | ||
A gaming dark pattern is something that is deliberately added to a game to cause an unwanted negative experience for the player with a positive outcome for the game developer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DarkPattern.Games |url=https://www.darkpattern.games/ |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=Dark Pattern Games}}</ref> | |||
*'''Temporal Dark Patterns:''' A temporal dark pattern is designed to get you to spend more time playing the game than you would have otherwise. | |||
**'''Playing by Appointment:''' Being forced to play according to the game's schedule instead of yours. | |||
**'''Daily Rewards:''' Encourages return visits every day and punishes you for missing a day. | |||
*'''Monetary Dark Patterns:''' A monetary dark pattern is one which tricks you into spending more money than you want to spend on a game. | |||
**'''Currency Obfuscation:''' Exchange rate between real money and in-game currency disguises the real price of items. Hiding the true amount being spent. | |||
**'''Premium Currency Hostage Cycle:''' Never allowing users to get their balance down to zero, resulting in small amounts of left over premium currency that can't be used without spending more. Always trapping an amount that cannot be used in an endless cycle. A real world example of this dark pattern was used in the Starbucks coffee app.<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date=2024-01-03 |title=A new complaint claims Starbucks’ app traps customers in a cycle of spending |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/91004280/complaint-starbucks-app-spending-cycle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240103063608/https://www.fastcompany.com/91004280/complaint-starbucks-app-spending-cycle |archive-date=2024-01-03 |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=Fast Company}}</ref> | |||
*'''Social Dark Patterns:''' Social dark patterns use your relationships with friends and family to benefit the game. | |||
**'''Social Pyramid Scheme:''' You get a bonus for inviting your friends and then they have to invite their friends. | |||
*'''Psychological Dark Patterns:''' These dark patterns are psychological tricks that are used to get you to make bad decisions. | |||
==Why dark patterns are problematic== | |||
Dark patterns are more than just unethical design choices. They have real-world consequences for consumers and society. Key concerns include: | Dark patterns are more than just unethical design choices. They have real-world consequences for consumers and society. Key concerns include: | ||
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Dark patterns undermine the principles of fair commerce and user empowerment, exploiting human psychology for profit. As awareness grows, collaboration among consumers, designers, and regulators will be essential to curb their prevalence and ensure digital spaces remain transparent and trustworthy. | Dark patterns undermine the principles of fair commerce and user empowerment, exploiting human psychology for profit. As awareness grows, collaboration among consumers, designers, and regulators will be essential to curb their prevalence and ensure digital spaces remain transparent and trustworthy. | ||
== References == | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Anti-Consumer_Practices]] | [[Category:Anti-Consumer_Practices]] | ||
[[Category:Common terms]] | [[Category:Common terms]] | ||