社会｜通販でのダークパターンの実態 / Society | The Reality of Dark Patterns in Online Shopping

Summary

Recently, there has been an increase in consumer harm caused by tactics known as “dark patterns” in online shopping.

For example, techniques such as displaying “only 1 left in stock” at the time of purchase, using timers to create a sense of urgency, and even making subscriptions the default option are common, forcing consumers into unfavorable choices. These tactics are clever, and once caught in their trap, it can be difficult to cancel, so consumers need to exercise caution.

Dialogue

This dialogue is fictional and based on the article.

Log: Do you know what recent online shoppers should be aware of? There’s this thing called dark patterns that has become an issue.
Chako: Huh, what’s a dark pattern? Sounds like a scary story!
Log: It is indeed scary, but in reality, it refers to tactics like making you feel rushed by showing “only 1 left in stock” or automatically setting you up for a subscription.
Chako: That’s terrible! Why would they do something like that?
Navi: It’s designed to cleverly exploit consumer psychology to encourage purchases. By triggering feelings of urgency and anxiety, it increases the likelihood that consumers will make choices they don’t actually want.
Chako: I see… I need to be careful!

Admin’s Note

As the reality of dark patterns becomes clearer, it’s time for consumers to reevaluate their behavior. Especially with the increase in online shopping, it’s crucial to stay informed and make careful choices to avoid falling for such tactics. Like Chako, it’s important to share this knowledge with those around us and raise awareness together. I hope we can use discussions like this as an opportunity to enhance consumer consciousness.