I was just thinking today that there should be a government agency devoted to maintaining a list of forbidden dark patterns, reported by consumers or employees. The precise system of warnings and punishments available would be up to the legislature to determine.<p>I think the specific examples that prompted me to think of this were 1) remembering that companies temporarily over-price their goods so that they can later advertise a price reduction, and 2) remembering how packaging uses words like "ultimate" subjectively.<p>Many countries probably have laws that already regulate pricing and advertising, and these aren't dark patterns in the same sense as the linked article, but I think that there should be stronger incentives for product managers to avoid manipulating potential customers.
I like that they allow screenshots.
I've taken tons of screenshots of these dark patterns that get on my nerves.<p>Amazon's interruptions check out to offer free prime, student prime, and some other stuff - and the teeny tiny font to say no - come on! I'm trying to give you money to get stuff - don't make it so hard.<p>Also, uhaul - omg - screen after screen of upsells - which aren't terrible things for one to consider - but the tiny continue text -<p>Can't these be an accrddibility foul of some law when old eyes can't read it - and the wording - ! c'mon!<p>"yes sign me up! " "No I don't want to be protected"<p>Gimme a skip to cart button, quit with the stupid tricks.<p>the language is as important as the size and ratio and button vs text, etc.<p>/eases of soapbox<p>might submit some.. An annotation tool or draw circles might be nice.