SILICON VALLEY - USA - Consumers are being manipulated and misled by Dark Patterns used by unscrupulous apps and websites.
Silicon Valley websites, social media and apps are increasingly utilising an arsenal of manipulative and deceitful techniques called Dark Patterns to influence and force web users to part with their money easier, and in order to trap consumers into making purchases they would not normally make.
“Dark patterns” refer to deceitful design techniques employed by websites and apps to influence user behaviour in ways that benefit the service providers, often at the expense of the users. These design elements are intentionally subtle and misleading and are crafted to manipulate consumers into making decisions they might not otherwise make, such as signing up for subscriptions, making additional purchases, or staying subscribed to services longer than intended.
A comprehensive study conducted by the FTC in collaboration with international consumer protection networks analysed 642 websites and apps offering subscription services. The findings revealed that nearly 76 percent of these platforms employed at least one dark pattern, with 67 percent using multiple such techniques. These statistics highlight the widespread use of deceptive practices in the digital subscription industry, raising significant concerns about consumer protection.
The study, conducted as part of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network’s (ICPEN) annual review, underscores the need for increased consumer awareness and protection against dark patterns. With officials from 27 authorities across 26 countries participating, the research utilised dark pattern descriptions established by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to assess the impact of these practices.
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