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 dark patterns. The government has also issued a draft guideline to stop dark patterns.

In its guidelines, the government has made it clear that if any online platform manipulates the preferences of users or tries to change them, then strict action will be taken against those e-commerce companies. In this, a provision of a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh has been made by the government.

What is the dark pattern?

It is a bit difficult to understand the dark pattern because in this there is no cheating of money or digital arrest with the users. If said in simple words, the customer does not even know 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 on it that the stock is limited, that is, the company has only 1 or 2 pieces of the said product left. In this situation, often customers do not compare the product and immediately order online.

These are the popular methods of dark patterns.

Deal over-stock 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, many times it is said that the rates of this product are going to increase.

Confirmed shaming: This is the worst method of dark pattern. In this, when you open a site, many times it becomes difficult to go back from that site. This is called confirmed shaming in a dark pattern, in which an attempt is made to make you stay on the site for as long as possible.

Nanning: This method of dark pattern is quite popular, in this, you are forced to buy a particular product. For which its advertisements repeatedly come on your mobile screen.

Bait and switch: In this, the product purchased by the customer is sold another product in exchange and then the company makes an excuse that an alternative product has been given due to the stock being over.

Basket sneaking: Basket sneaking is common in dark patterns. In this, big companies pack a 100gm product in 110gm packing and increase its price as an add-on. In such a situation, if you have limited need of that product, then the rest of the items remain unnecessarily purchased for you.