Dark Patterns

Dark Patterns

Subject : Science and technology

Section: MSc

Concept:

• Centre to issue norms against „dark patterns‟ in online advertisements

About Dark Patterns:

• Dark patterns are elements of digital user interface (UI) which are designed to take advantage of inherent psychological biases and lead users towards making certain choices.
• In user-centred UI design, the goal of the designer is to maximise usability and enhance a user’s experience of a digital product or service.
• It influence users to make choices which maximise the interests of the online service provider (often without the user‟s awareness).
• Such patterns are unethical user interface designs that deliberately make your Internet experience harder or even exploit you.
• In turn, they benefit the company or platform employing the designs.
• By using dark patterns, digital platforms take away a user’s right to full information about the services they are using, and reduce their control over their browsing experience.

Techniques of Dark Patterns:

• Misdirection techniques
• Misdirection techniques involve visuals or language being used to direct users away from a choice.
• For example, an online service provider may make an option that is favourable to the provider more prominent by using a large, colourful button, and the option which is less favourable to the provider less prominent, by using small, grey font placed to the side.

Confirmshaming techniques

• Confirmshaming techniques involve users being presented with negatively framed decline options that are used to guide users toward making certain choices which benefit the online service provider.