Blog Post 6
After reading the article about dark patterns in UX, my understanding of the way I view websites has changed. I now know that what I have described as user-unfriendly (dark patterns) websites are with intent and purpose. I now have some vocabulary for what I would scoff at as poor design techniques.
As mentioned in the article, I had a similar experience with Audible but was promptly refunded the membership fees after contacting them. I was frustrated because I missed the charges on my credit card statement and I had to contact the company for a refund (it was very inconvenient).
The examples used in the article about A/B testing of companies’ opt-in marketing strategies have provided context for me as an app user. Some websites or apps that have a choice pre-checked as a default usually make me think twice about the service or product. The fact that a choice is being made for me, tends to send off alarms in my head (uncheck that).
Using dark patterns in web development is not beneficial to users but I can understand why a company would be tempted to use such deceptive practices, especially with the freemium practice but customers are finding ways to work around the dark practices. Password-sharing became a way for some users to combat dark patterns with some companies’ freemium practices.
Users should have a clear upfront understanding of what they can expect going forward. People are busy, and burying the fine print and hidden fees is something everyone can do without. It is also a good practice to remind people that their trials are ending, so they can decide to keep the service. Once you lose a customer’s trust, it will be difficult to re-establish the relationship with the customer. Using an honest ethical approach to web development is the best practice.