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How companies use dark patterns to keep you subscribed

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Re: How companies use dark patterns to keep you subscribed

#31

Post by azangru »

eli wrote: post #13

"Deceptive patterns" is now the preferred term for what used to be called "dark patterns" It's both more descriptive and avoids equating "dark" to "bad". I've also heard "hostile patterns" as an umbrella term that covers deceptive patterns as well as careless UX problems like a design that isn't accessible.

> "Deceptive patterns" is now the preferred term

Preferred by whom though? The authors of the article preferred "dark patterns" — probably as something more commonly used in their circles.

Re: How companies use dark patterns to keep you subscribed

#32

Post by dclowd9901 »

dyingkneepad wrote: post #30

As much as I think a website like this is beautiful, I always get highly annoyed when browsing stuff like this. There's a giant scrollable area with no text at the beginning, so I thought I had to click the little mac-like titlebar window buttons. When text finally appears, I have to wait for the animations before I can read. If I decide to scroll fast I lose text. My laptop fan keeps running all the time, which high…

Politely disagree. Keep these sites because they’re cool and I think they really flex the muscle of the medium, but for people who just want some straightforward long form journalism, have a “simple” style sheet.

Re: How companies use dark patterns to keep you subscribed

#33

Post by miguelmato »

mikestew wrote: post #26

Not that corporations need me to carry their water, but I believe the popular subscription whipping boy, the New York Times, might be unfairly characterized now. After yet another one of these "subscriptions are evil" articles, I decided I wasn't going to support such shenanigans anymore, plus I don't read the NYT like I used to, so I'd sit on hold for as long as it takes. But it looks like it's now a few button clic…

To California residents they have to provide the ability to cancel online. Some people change their billing address to be able to do it online without the infamous calling

Re: How companies use dark patterns to keep you subscribed

#34

Post by mikestew »

Damogran6 wrote: post #23
eli wrote: post #13

"Deceptive patterns" is now the preferred term for what used to be called "dark patterns" It's both more descriptive and avoids equating "dark" to "bad". I've also heard "hostile patterns" as an umbrella term that covers deceptive patterns as well as careless UX problems like a design that isn't accessible.

So...I get the reasoning, but yet another in a large string of things where I wouldn't have conflated something with race....until you brought it up, and now I do...I don't know if I should feel guilty at the inherent privilege or if people are just taking it to an extreme, or if it's just language being language.

I hesitate to drift this far off-topic, but I feel it important to point out that within my lifetime (as one approaching retirement age) the word "dark" was the root of a word to describe black people in the U. S., and it wasn't complimentary. Hell, go look up the lyrics for "Old Kentucky Home" that gets sung every year at the Kentucky Derby (though I'm confident the lyrics have changed; or maybe not).

That said, I don't make the association, either. But I'm willing to make the change, if not for basic politeness, then to use words that are more descriptive.

Re: How companies use dark patterns to keep you subscribed

#35

Post by throwaway049 »

pelagicAustral wrote: post #2

No shit! As an anecdote just yesterday I fell for the premium meme on LinkedIn... I could just not stand the idea of not knowing who visited my profile! (how weak of me), they literally charged me 20 bucks (half price) for a month of premium, I bet I will completely forget to cancel the sub next month and I will end up paying 40 dollars for a few more months until I finally decide its been enough... Also, fell for Sp…

Guess they know I'm a miser since they let me have a month of premium free of charge. I don't see much value in knowing who looked at my profile - if they don't follow up with a message then I wasn't the person they were looking for

Re: How companies use dark patterns to keep you subscribed

#36

Post by dclowd9901 »

graypegg wrote: post #3

I heard someone say a while back that “cancelled customers are just potential future customers”. Anyone that’s had an easy cancellation process will remember that flexibility if they ever need that service again. No idea why no large subscription service seems to understand that. Make me go thru annoying hoops and you’ve lost me for good!

I mean, just thinking through it logically, it _must_ be harder getting someone to sign back up for a service they quit right? I mean, they tried it and then they left it because ostensibly they didn’t think it provided value. How does that equation change?

Re: How companies use dark patterns to keep you subscribed

#37

Post by mikestew »

miguelmato wrote: post #33
mikestew wrote: post #26

Not that corporations need me to carry their water, but I believe the popular subscription whipping boy, the New York Times, might be unfairly characterized now. After yet another one of these "subscriptions are evil" articles, I decided I wasn't going to support such shenanigans anymore, plus I don't read the NYT like I used to, so I'd sit on hold for as long as it takes. But it looks like it's now a few button clic…

To California residents they have to provide the ability to cancel online. Some people change their billing address to be able to do it online without the infamous calling

None of that is relevant if the NYT allows anyone regardless of location to cancel online, which was my point.

Re: How companies use dark patterns to keep you subscribed

#38

Post by chr-s »

taude wrote: post #6
pelagicAustral wrote: post #2

No shit! As an anecdote just yesterday I fell for the premium meme on LinkedIn... I could just not stand the idea of not knowing who visited my profile! (how weak of me), they literally charged me 20 bucks (half price) for a month of premium, I bet I will completely forget to cancel the sub next month and I will end up paying 40 dollars for a few more months until I finally decide its been enough... Also, fell for Sp…

I typically add calendar reminders the moment I find myself signing up for something. Current reminders: Cancel Peacock by n-Date; Don't renew Tidal by foo; Downgrade YouTube premium on n;

I use the "snooze" feature in gmail for this. When I get an email confirming a subscription, I snooze it for 29 days or however long so I get the same email in my inbox before expiration which reminds me to unsubscribe.

Re: How companies use dark patterns to keep you subscribed

#39

Post by dqft »

Damogran6 wrote: post #23
eli wrote: post #13

"Deceptive patterns" is now the preferred term for what used to be called "dark patterns" It's both more descriptive and avoids equating "dark" to "bad". I've also heard "hostile patterns" as an umbrella term that covers deceptive patterns as well as careless UX problems like a design that isn't accessible.

So...I get the reasoning, but yet another in a large string of things where I wouldn't have conflated something with race....until you brought it up, and now I do...I don't know if I should feel guilty at the inherent privilege or if people are just taking it to an extreme, or if it's just language being language.

No need, just call them low IQ patterns and no one would be confused.
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