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A Comparative Study of Dark Patterns Across Web and Mobile Modalities

Authors:

Johanna Gunawan,

David Choffnes,

Woodrow Hartzog,

Christo WilsonAuthors Info & Claims

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, Volume 5, Issue CSCW2

Article No.: 377, Pages 1 - 29

https://doi.org/10.1145/3479521

Published: 18 October 2021 Publication History

Abstract

Dark patterns are user interface elements that can influence a person's behavior against their intentions or best interests. Prior work identified these patterns in websites and mobile apps, but little is known about how the design of platforms might impact dark pattern manifestations and related human vulnerabilities. In this paper, we conduct a comparative study of mobile application, mobile browser, and web browser versions of 105 popular services to investigate variations in dark patterns across modalities. We perform manual tests, identify dark patterns in each service, and examine how they persist or differ by modality. Our findings show that while services can employ some dark patterns equally across modalities, many dark patterns vary between platforms, and that these differences saddle people with inconsistent experiences of autonomy, privacy, and control. We conclude by discussing broader implications for policymakers and practitioners, and provide suggestions for furthering dark patterns research.

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Cited By

Kelly DRubin V(2024)Identifying Dark Patterns in User Account Disabling Interfaces: Content Analysis ResultsSocial Media + Society10.1177/2056305123122426910:1Online publication date: 27-Jan-2024
https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051231224269
Schäfer RSahabi SBrocker ABorchers J(2024)Growing Up With Dark Patterns: How Children Perceive Malicious User Interface DesignsProceedings of the 13th Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/3679318.3685358(1-17)Online publication date: 13-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3679318.3685358
Aung KSoubutts ESingh A(2024)"What a stupid way to do business": Towards an Understanding of Older Adults' Perceptions of Deceptive Patterns and Ways to Develop ResistanceProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36771138:CHI PLAY(1-31)Online publication date: 15-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3677113
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Index Terms

A Comparative Study of Dark Patterns Across Web and Mobile Modalities
1. Human-centered computing
  1. Human computer interaction (HCI)
    1. Empirical studies in HCI
2. Social and professional topics
  1. Computing / technology policy
    1. Commerce policy
      1. Consumer products policy

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cover image Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction Volume 5, Issue CSCW2

CSCW2

October 2021

5376 pages

EISSN:2573-0142

DOI:10.1145/3493286

Editor:
Jeff Nichols
Apple Inc., United States

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Copyright © 2021 ACM.

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Publication History

Published: 18 October 2021

Published in PACMHCI Volume 5, Issue CSCW2

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Cited By

Kelly DRubin V(2024)Identifying Dark Patterns in User Account Disabling Interfaces: Content Analysis ResultsSocial Media + Society10.1177/2056305123122426910:1Online publication date: 27-Jan-2024
https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051231224269
Schäfer RSahabi SBrocker ABorchers J(2024)Growing Up With Dark Patterns: How Children Perceive Malicious User Interface DesignsProceedings of the 13th Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/3679318.3685358(1-17)Online publication date: 13-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3679318.3685358
Aung KSoubutts ESingh A(2024)"What a stupid way to do business": Towards an Understanding of Older Adults' Perceptions of Deceptive Patterns and Ways to Develop ResistanceProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36771138:CHI PLAY(1-31)Online publication date: 15-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3677113
Hadan HSgandurra SZhang-Kennedy LNacke L(2024)Culture Clash: When Deceptive Design Meets Diverse Player ExpectationsCompanion Proceedings of the 2024 Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play10.1145/3665463.3678866(272-275)Online publication date: 14-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3665463.3678866
Hadan HZhang-Kennedy LNacke L(2024)Computer-based Deceptive Game Design in Commercial Virtual Reality Games: A Preliminary InvestigationCompanion Proceedings of the 2024 Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play10.1145/3665463.3678820(109-123)Online publication date: 14-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3665463.3678820
Sánchez Chamorro LToebosch RLallemand C(2024)Manipulative Design and Older Adults: Co-Creating Magic Machines to Understand Experiences of Online ManipulationProceedings of the 2024 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference10.1145/3643834.3661513(668-684)Online publication date: 1-Jul-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3643834.3661513
Sanchez Chamorro LLallemand CGray C(2024)"My Mother Told Me These Things are Always Fake" - Understanding Teenagers' Experiences with Manipulative DesignsProceedings of the 2024 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference10.1145/3643834.3660704(1469-1482)Online publication date: 1-Jul-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3643834.3660704
Zhang-Kennedy LKeleher MValiquette M(2024)Navigating the Gray: Design Practitioners' Perceptions Toward the Implementation of Privacy Dark PatternsProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36373748:CSCW1(1-26)Online publication date: 26-Apr-2024
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Lu YZhang CYang YYao YLi T(2024)From Awareness to Action: Exploring End-User Empowerment Interventions for Dark Patterns in UXProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36373368:CSCW1(1-41)Online publication date: 26-Apr-2024
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Seaborn KItagaki TWatanabe MWang YGeng PFujii TMandai YKojima MYoshida S(2024)Deceptive, Disruptive, No Big Deal: Japanese People React to Simulated Dark Commercial PatternsExtended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613905.3651099(1-8)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
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