Latest news with #darkpatterns
Associated Press
30-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
'Dark Patterns' in Online Advertising: What They Are and How To Avoid Them
'Though these practices may seem temporarily effective, they will typically result in angry customers, legal trouble, and tarnish a business's reputation. It is essential to avoid these practices.'— Ken LaMance, LegalMatch's General Counsel. RENO, NV, UNITED STATES, July 30, 2025 / / -- Online marketing for a business can be stressful and complex, and business owners can be tempted to cut corners. However, there are widespread marketing tactics that may seem normal because they are common, but are unethical and fraudulent. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is labeling these marketing tactics as 'dark patterns.' Dark patterns are misleading and manipulative design practices in marketing that are used to trick a consumer into agreeing to or purchasing a company's product or service. Deceptive and 'dark' online patterns that businesses should avoid include, but are not limited to, the following: - Drip Pricing: Only revealing part of the price of a product or service, with additional hidden fees tacked on throughout the transaction. - Disguising Ads: Making an ad appear like it is independent content or search results. - Confirmation Shaming: This is when there is an automated guilt or shaming comment in response to a user declining a service or product, such as 'Enjoy your higher prices,' or 'No, I don't want to save money!' - Roach Motel: 'Roach Motel' is a term for when a company makes it very easy to sign up for a product or service, but extremely difficult to cancel it. - Forced Continuity: Automatically renewing subscriptions without a re-subscription or prior authorization from the customer in some fashion. Business owners who are interested in avoiding dark patterns and want to promote their business ethically and honestly are urged to acquire legal counsel to assess the business and make appropriate and compliant recommendations. the nation's most trusted attorney-client matching platform, can pair entrepreneurs for free with a qualified business attorney who can provide expert guidance. The platform also has a large Online Law Library with articles on many different legal topics, including sales & marketing violations, false advertisement, and more. Business owners and future entrepreneurs can confide in LegalMatch as a trusted source of legal direction and support. About LegalMatch is the nation's oldest and largest online legal lead-generation service. Headquartered in Reno, Nevada, LegalMatch helps people find the right lawyer and helps attorneys find new clients. LegalMatch's service is free to individuals and small businesses looking for legal help. For more information about LegalMatch, please visit our website or contact us directly. Ken LaMance LegalMatch +1 415-946-0856 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Facebook YouTube X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Underhanded Shopping Tactics
"Dark Patterns" - What Are They?Which?, externalWebsites and apps spend millions working out how to present choices to consumers in order to impact their decision-making. Through the use of design features such as colours, placement of options, defaults and information provided at certain moments in certain ways, they can influence consumers to take certain actions, for example to buy something, spend more than they intended or give their data this can be to the benefit of consumers, for example by helping them to quickly find a product they want. However, these design features can also be used to manipulate consumers into actions they don't necessarily want to take - known as "dark patterns".Dark patterns manipulate consumers into doing things that they didn't mean to do or into making a choice which favours the website or app rather than the consumer. They work on a subconscious level, exploiting consumers' cognitive vulnerabilities such as biases and limited of "Dark Patterns"1. Activity MessagesActivity messages are messages about other consumers' actions. It creates a sense of scarcity, and can be designed to pressure consumers into believing they must act quickly to secure a product. It also creates a sense of fear of missing sold!""User123 bought 5hr ago""50 sold in the last hour"2. Low Stock MessagesLow stock messages refer to when consumers are informed about the limited quantity of a product. It creates a sense of scarcity, and is designed to pressure consumers into believing they must act quickly to secure a 5 items left""Stock is running low""Limited stock"3. Countdown TimersCountdown timers and limited time messages may contain incorrect visual information about an opportunity, usually a discount, which will end soon. It can also be defined as fake urgency, creating a sense of time pressure, compelling consumers to make a quicker sale""Special deals just for you""Hurry! This item is now £0.50 cheaper"4. Confirm ShamingConfirm shaming is a type of design or wording that creates the illusion of being dishonest or stupid for the consumer. It is also described as emotionally manipulating consumers by making them feel guilt or are eligible for a discount! Are you sure you want to leave?""Don't miss out on this offer! Would you like to continue shopping?"5. NaggingNagging is a form of design requesting consumers repeatedly and constantly to do something. It is when an app or website interrupts the consumer with a request, taking the consumer's time and attention, or sending many undesired notifications via pop-ups and flash To ReportYou can report any misleading adverts that use "dark patterns" to the Advertising Standards Authority by clicking here., externalYou can also report to Trading Standards, via their advice partners:England and Wales (Citizens Advice, external)Scotland (Citizens Advice Scotland, external)Northern Ireland (Consumerline, external)
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
European consumer groups accuse Shein of using 'dark patterns'
Online fast fashion retailer Shein is facing a complaint lodged by the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and its 25 member groups from 21 countries. The complaint, submitted to the European Commission (EC) and consumer protection authorities across Europe, accuses Shein of employing manipulative tactics known as "dark patterns". These strategies allegedly coerce customers into making unintended purchases, exacerbating both the environmental harm and societal issues inherent in the fast fashion sector. The accusation is grounded in recent research conducted by BEUC's members throughout Europe, which highlights how such illicit practices not only lead to involuntary consumer expenditure but also perpetuate the distribution of potentially hazardous clothing items within Europe. The tactics undermine consumer efforts to support a more sustainable and environmentally conscious economy. In February 2025, the EC initiated its own investigation into Shein's adherence to EU consumer law. By May, it had called on Shein to align with EU consumer regulations and cease employing the "dark patterns". The complaint urges the EC and consumer protection authorities to demand that Shein cease using deceptive methods such as "confirm-shaming" [pressuring users into confirming a choice by making the "no" option seem negative or unpleasant]. emotional manipulation, infinite scrolling and "nagging," all of which are deemed unfair commercial practices under the EU's Unfair Commercial Practices Directive. It also urged the company to present proof that customer testimonials and "low stock" alerts are authentic. If it is unable to do so, Shein should be instructed to stop these practices. If Shein fails to take corrective measures, the authorities are called upon to intervene to protect consumers from serious harm until Shein complies with EU consumer law. The complaint also addresses the broader issue of "dark patterns" in the fast fashion industry, urging authorities to investigate other retailers engaging in similar unfair practices. BEUC director general Agustín Reyna stated: 'Shein's use of 'dark patterns' is a well-documented reality, which has been going on for several years now as BEUC members' research reveals. They make consumers spend ever more money on fast fashion products, that are harmful to themselves, the environment and the people that produce them. 'This ultra-fast fashion model is fuelled by manipulative practices that pressure consumers into buying ever more. Shein is designed to be addictive: it is driven by powerful algorithms to maximise consumer engagement and over-spending. We expect a strong and swift response from authorities to put an end to Shein's manipulative practices and to begin an industry-wide investigation'. In May 2025, Shein received validation of its net zero greenhouse gas emissions targets from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). "European consumer groups accuse Shein of using 'dark patterns'" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CTV News
05-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Shein hit with complaint from EU consumer group over ‘dark patterns'
Pages from the Shein website, left, and from the Temu site, right, are shown in this photo, in New York, June 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) LONDON - Pan-European consumers organization BEUC filed a complaint with the European Commission on Thursday against online fast-fashion retailer Shein over its use of 'dark patterns,' tactics designed to make people buy more on its app and website. Pop-ups urging customers not to leave the app or risk losing promotions, countdown timers that create time pressure to complete a purchase, and the infinite scroll on its app are among the methods Shein uses that could be considered 'aggressive commercial practices,' BEUC said in a report also published on Thursday. The BEUC also detailed Shein's use of frequent notifications, with one phone receiving 12 notifications from the app in a single day. 'For fast fashion you need to have volume, you need to have mass consumption, and these dark patterns are designed to stimulate mass consumption,' Agustin Reyna, director general of BEUC, said in an interview. 'For us, to be satisfactory they need to get rid of these dark patterns, but the question is whether they will have enough incentive to do so, knowing the potential impact it can have on the volume of purchases.' In a statement, Shein said: 'We are already working constructively with national consumers authorities and the EU Commission to demonstrate our commitment to complying with EU laws and regulations.' It added that the BEUC had not accepted its request for a meeting. Shein and rival online discount platform Temu have surged in popularity in Europe, partly helped by apps that encourage shoppers to engage with games and stand to win discounts and free products. The BEUC has also previously targeted Temu in a complaint. Shein's use of gamification, drawing shoppers to use the app regularly, has helped drive its success. In the 'Puppy Keep' game on the app, users feed a virtual dog and collect points to win free items. They can gain more points by scrolling through the app, and by ordering items, but must log into the game every day or risk losing cumulative rewards. The BEUC noted that dark patterns are widely used by mass-market clothing retailers and called on the consumer protection network to include other retailers in its investigation. It said 25 of its member organizations in 21 countries, including France, Germany and Spain, joined in the grievance filed with the Commission and with the European consumer protection network. Late last month, the European Commission notified Shein of practices breaching EU consumer law and warned it would face fines if it failed to address the concerns. The company is also under scrutiny from EU tech regulators on how it complies with EU online content rules. By Helen Reid, Reuters
CBC
05-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Consumer group accuses Shein of manipulating shoppers with 'dark patterns'
Social Sharing A consumer organization filed a complaint with the European Commission on Thursday against online fast-fashion retailer Shein over its use of "dark patterns," which are tactics designed to make people buy more on its app and website. Pop-ups urging customers not to leave the app or risk losing promotions, countdown timers that create time pressure to complete a purchase and the infinite scroll on its app are among the methods Shein uses that could be considered "aggressive commercial practices," wrote BEUC, a pan-European consumer group, in a report. The BEUC also detailed Shein's use of frequent notifications, with one phone receiving 12 notifications from the app in a single day. "For fast fashion you need to have volume, you need to have mass consumption, and these dark patterns are designed to stimulate mass consumption," said Agustin Reyna, director general of BEUC, in an interview. "For us, to be satisfactory they need to get rid of these dark patterns, but the question is whether they will have enough incentive to do so, knowing the potential impact it can have on the volume of purchases." WATCH | How dark patterns are regulated by Canadian law: How dark patterns in web design are regulated under Canadian law 2 years ago Duration 2:09 A U.S. regulator sued Amazon last month for allegedly duping customers into buying Prime memberships using a web design trick called 'dark patterns.' Here's what Canada is doing about the practice. A Shein spokesperson said in a statement that the company is "already working constructively with national consumers authorities and the EU Commission to demonstrate our commitment to complying with EU laws and regulations." It added that the BEUC had not accepted its request for a meeting. Gameification used to drive shoppers to app The BEUC also targeted the online discount platform Temu, a Shein rival, in a previous complaint. Both platforms have surged in popularity in Europe, partly helped by apps that encourage shoppers to engage with games and stand to win discounts and free products. Shein's use of gameification, drawing shoppers to use the app regularly, has helped drive its success. In the "Puppy Keep" game on the app, users feed a virtual dog and collect points to win free items. They can gain more points by scrolling through the app, and by ordering items, but must log into the game every day or risk losing cumulative rewards. The BEUC noted that dark patterns are widely used by mass-market clothing retailers and called on the consumer protection network to include other retailers in its investigation. It said 25 of its member organizations in 21 countries, including France, Germany and Spain, joined in the grievance filed with the commission and with the European consumer protection network. Late last month, the European Commission notified Shein of practices breaching EU consumer law and warned it would face fines if it failed to address the concerns.
