The Psychology of Persuasion: How Businesses Use Dark Patterns to Influence Consumers
Businesses often use dark patterns—design tactics that manipulate users into making choices they might not otherwise make—to increase sales, gather more personal data, or retain customers. These deceptive techniques include hiding opt-out options, using confusing language, or creating urgency through false scarcity. While effective in driving short-term gains, dark patterns can harm user trust and damage a company’s reputation over time, raising ethical concerns about transparency and fairness in digital interactions.
