Online services pervasively employ manipulative designs (i.e., dark patterns) to influence users to purchase goods and subscriptions, spend more time on-site, or mindlessly accept the harvesting of their personal data. To protect users from the lure of such designs, we asked: are users aware of the presence of dark patterns? If so, are they able to resist them? By surveying 406 individuals, we found that they are generally aware of the influence that manipulative designs can exert on their online behaviour. However, being aware does not equip users with the ability to oppose such influence. We further find that respondents, especially younger ones, often recognise the "darkness" of certain designs, but remain unsure of the actual harm they may suffer. Finally, we discuss a set of interventions (e.g., bright patterns, design frictions, training games, applications to expedite legal enforcement) in the light of our findings.
翻译:在线服务普遍使用操纵设计(即暗色模式)来影响用户购买商品和订阅,在现场花费更多时间或无意中接受个人数据的采集。为了保护用户免受这种设计诱惑,我们问:用户是否了解暗色模式的存在?如果知道,他们是否能够抵制这些模式?通过调查406个人,我们发现他们一般了解操纵设计对其在线行为的影响。然而,意识到这些设计并不能使用户有能力反对这种影响。我们进一步发现,被调查者,特别是较年轻的用户,往往认识到某些设计的“暗淡”,但是仍然不能确定它们可能遭受的实际伤害。最后,我们根据我们的调查结果讨论了一系列干预措施(例如,明亮的模式、设计摩擦、训练游戏、加快执法的应用程序)。