Dark Pattern: The government has recently started cracking down on e-commerce companies, the biggest reason behind this is cheating people with the help of dork patterns. To prevent dark patterns, the government has also issued a draft guide line.
In its guidelines, the government has made it clear that if any online platform manipulates or tries to change the preferences of users, then strict action will be taken against those e-commerce companies. In this, a provision of fine up to Rs 10 lakh has been made by the government.
It is a bit difficult to understand the dark pattern, because there is nothing like cheating of money or digital arrest of the users in it. If put in simple words, the customer does not even realize that he has become a victim of a dark pattern. For example, understand that you are buying a product online for the first time and it is written that the stock is limited, that is, the company has only 1 or 2 pieces of the said product left. In this situation, customers often do not compare the products and immediately order online.
Deal ends-stock out: This method is quite common, in this the customer is lied to that there is a limited time offer on the said product or it has limited stock. Also it is often said that the rates of this product are going to increase.
Confirm Shaming: This is the worst form of dark pattern. In this, when you open a site, sometimes it becomes difficult to go back from that site. This is called dark pattern confirm shaming, in which an attempt is made to keep you on the site for as long as possible.
Nanning: This method of dark pattern is quite popular, in which you are forced to buy one product. For which its advertisements appear again and again on your mobile screen.
Bet and Switch: In this, the item purchased by the customer is sold in exchange for another item and then an excuse is made by the company that an alternative product has been given due to out of stock.
Basket Sneaking: Basket sneaking is common in dark patterns. In this, big companies bring out 100gm product in 110gm packing and add on its price by increasing it. In such a situation, if you have limited need of that product, then the remaining goods remain purchased for you unnecessarily.
