Dark patterns are misleading design elements and website designs that attempt to trick users into making decisions that are not in their best interest. You can find out how you can recognize dark patterns and best protect yourself here from our partners on the Watchlist Internet !
Dark Patterns in the Wild
The Internet is a playground for designers and web designers. They are increasingly relying on dark patterns to attract consumers' attention and influence their decisions. If you take a closer look, it becomes clear that the Internet is teeming with manipulative dark patterns.
Dark patterns are also increasingly being used in e-commerce. This is where they are particularly effective: consumers can be playfully retained in the online shop, a bargain can be turned into an expensive subscription or time pressure elements can tempt them to buy more than originally planned.
Dark patterns are effective, as research shows: In two large-scale experiments, US researchers examined the effect dark patterns have on consumers' decisions. The results show that hidden information, trick questions and the installation of hurdles work particularly well.
Many forms of Dark Patterns
We have listed some examples of dark patterns here:
Would you like to read more about dark patterns? In the study “Lost Time, Lost Money” the Chamber of Labor provides an overview.

This is how you can defend yourself!

Dark Patterns – the backgrounds
When users operate computers or smartphones, they do so via so-called user interfaces. The design of every window, every button or even the structure of a website can change the behavior of users. Dark patterns are used to influence user decisions contrary to their own intentions or interests. This happens through manipulation, misleading or coercion. To describe these design decisions, the term “Dark Patterns” was introduced by Harry Brignull in 2010. The user experience expert used this term to criticize the fact that websites and apps use design to manipulate users. There are numerous examples of information about Dark Patterns in English on his website.
Here we have listed some types of Dark Patterns:

ICPEN Fraud Prevention Month
Every year, the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN) focuses on a different topic to warn consumers about fraud during International Fraud Prevention Month. You can read more about this initiative here.
Would you like to find out more about dark patterns? For more information, see the article “Beware of Dark Patterns” on verbrauchentenfragen.at.
Source:
Watchlist Internet
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