Dark Patterns

Subject : Science and technology

Section: MSc

Concept:

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.