The vast majority of websites you visit now greet you with a pop-up.
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Youll know from experience which one you tend to click.
E-commerce websites alsofrequently usedark patterns.
Say youve found a competitively priced product youd like to buy.
App design
Manipulating users for commercial gain isnt just used on websites.
Currently, more than95% of Android appson the Google Play store are free to download and use.
Creating these apps is an expensive business, requiring teams of designers, developers, artists, and testers.
Users are forced to watch adverts and frequently encounter disguised adverts that look like part of the game.
Some of this psychological manipulation seems inappropriate for younger users.
Teenage girls susceptibility to peer influence is exploited to encourage them to buy clothes for in-game avatars.
Some games promote unhealthy body imagery while others actively demonstrate andencourage bullyingthrough indirect aggression between characters.
Shedding light
The problem with dark design is that its difficult to spot.
And dark patterns, which are established in every developers toolbox, spread fast.
