Dark Patterns - Preselection

1. What are dark patterns in marketing?
2. What are some examples of dark patterns?
3. Are dark patterns legal?

What are dark patterns in marketing?

The dark pattern tactics detailed in the report include disguising ads to look like independent content, making it difficult for consumers to cancel subscriptions or charges, burying key terms or junk fees, and tricking consumers into sharing their data.

What are some examples of dark patterns?

What is an example of a dark pattern? Bait and switch, disguised ads, forced continuity, hidden costs, friend spam, price comparison prevention, and misdirection are the common dark UX examples.

Are dark patterns legal?

The use of dark patterns is not by default illegal – it depends how the dark pattern is applied. Online businesses clearly need to be persuasive to consumers, but dark patterns risk breaching both data protection and consumer laws and so should be used with caution.