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Request for comments regarding topics to be discussed at Dark Patterns workshop

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Re: Request for comments regarding topics to be discussed at Dark Patterns workshop

#101
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>The App Store doesn’t let me download apps that are not compatible with my device. Let's not split hairs over this. I just got rid of my iPad that does. You tap "get" on the app and after doing something for 5-10 seconds it pops up a modal that says it's not compatible. Why was the app store showing apps to me that are not compatible or, rather, why was there no way to filter out the ones that are not compatible?

I’m not sure what I want with this - on MacOS it’s goddamn infuriating trying to download an OS that you want to install on a machine that isn’t the one you are browsing from. You can’t just use the App Store and end up doing all sorts of horrible things. I’ve commented on this before and had people send me links that show you can do it in the US App Store, but I can’t from NZ.

Oh are you talking about how you how certain things are hidden from search in the macOS app store? I found that annoying too. I had an old machine that I wanted to upgrade to Catalina and searching through the app store gave no results. Some how I found this link[0] and it magically brings me to macOS Catalina in the app store. Why didn't it come up in the search?

[0]: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683

Re: Request for comments regarding topics to be discussed at Dark Patterns workshop

#103
post #17

The worst one is probably trying to make it hard for users to stop paying for a service, like cancelling a subscription. That shit should be punishable by literal prison time.

And getting a new credit card used to be a reliable failsafe to stop getting billed for a hard-to-cancel service, but not so if the subscription agreement allows for automatic updating:

https://twocents.lifehacker.com/heres-why-everyone-already-h...

Re: Request for comments regarding topics to be discussed at Dark Patterns workshop

#104

When creating a member account within AWS Organization it asks for root account email, this address is never validated before account is created. If you made a typo in that email and it happen to be on a valid domain you have no access to, then it is impossible to close that account and support is refusing to do anyhing, even if you contact them immediately.

I’m not sure that’s a “dark pattern” that’s just AWS incompentence, spiced up with a dash of “no my department” in customer service.

Re: Request for comments regarding topics to be discussed at Dark Patterns workshop

#106

I had an experience a couple of days ago with exactly this type of thing (I downloaded the comment form, and I'll send it in). In this case, it nearly cost the app maker a sale (I doubt they'll go out of business on the loss of my sale. As it happened, they didn't actually lose the sale). I wanted to ID some of the plants in my yard, looking for native vs. introduced, so I downloaded a couple of apps. One was a good…

I’ve tried some ML plant ID apps and they were all totally off. What’s this good one called, if you don’t mind saying?

Seek works incredibly well but has no paid version, so maybe that's something else.

Re: Request for comments regarding topics to be discussed at Dark Patterns workshop

#107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

New York Times does this also. As far as I can tell it's literally impossible to cancel a subscription. I had to close the card attached to my account.

I don't think that's accurate today. I recently cancelled my NYT subscription from their website, didn't even need to call them. How long ago was your experience?

About 10yrs ago

Re: Request for comments regarding topics to be discussed at Dark Patterns workshop

#108

Windows 10 does not respect the "default browser" setting when opening web-based content through apps. For example, clicking on "Help" links or search results from the start menu always opens in Edge. This seems far worse than their IE-bundling issue back in the day... at least users have a few web browsers to choose from, but what good is that when user preference is overridden?

Apple does this as well on iOS where certain stock apps like Books always open links in Safari even when you have a different default browser set.

Re: Request for comments regarding topics to be discussed at Dark Patterns workshop

#109
post #71
post #51

Slack has a fun dark pattern - they purposefully remove functionality from their web app to make you install their native app. The web app has a workspace switcher sidebar, but it only appears on ChromeOS, where you can't install the native client. https://webapps.stackexchange.com/questions/144258/slacks-we...

Reddit is just as guilty of this. If you want to see all the comments on a thread on their mobile site, you're pushed to install their official app and presumably create an account when doing so. As far as I can tell, the best workaround is to use the desktop site.

Also Zoom. Their web version seems to no longer work on Safari/Mac and Firefox/Mac, so they essentially force you onto native or don't use it.

Re: Request for comments regarding topics to be discussed at Dark Patterns workshop

#110
i think there are some rather great comments/examples of Dark Patterns in this thread and I just want to remind everyone to also submit those as public comment to the FTC! Just posting it on HN won't get it in front of the people who can make a difference!
Post reply on HN