Online shopping is booming – but so are the tactics designed to trick you.
Dark patterns are tactics some businesses use to nudge, manipulate or trick you into spending more than you planned or sharing information you don’t need to provide.
Firstly, let’s talk nagging.
This tactic is designed to interrupt what you’re trying to do – like trying to leave their website after browsing. Redirection or nagging often appear as pop-ups to encourage you to subscribe or set up an account to receive a discount, and in some cases, you may get a series of pop-ups, one after another. You could also receive emails trying to entice you back to the website to complete your purchase.
Ever experienced fear of missing out (FOMO) while online shopping? Scarcity cues may create a false sense of urgency, pushing you to make quick decisions before you have time to compare prices or reconsider. Lookout for countdown timers on shopping carts or messages like ‘hot price, selling fast’ or ‘only five left!’ – they’re designed to rush your decision making. When you’re rushed, you can end up spending more than you planned or buying things you don’t need.
To avoid having buyer’s remorse, take your time, don’t rush and stick to your budget. Look at different shops and compare prices before you buy. Always check that the website is safe and trustworthy and remember you can ask family or friends for recommendations or read online reviews to check. Be sure to read the fine print, including the terms and conditions, and know your consumer rights before you click “buy now.” It’s important to know when you can ask for a refund, repair, or replacement.
If you’ve ever shopped online, it’s like you’ve fallen into a “subscription trap”. This is a subscription that is easy to sign up to, but difficult to cancel. Some services may only require minimal information to subscribe to a product or service, but when you try to cancel, you might face multiple steps and feel pressured to stay.
Some subscriptions have hidden costs, so always read the details carefully. Before signing up for a “free month”, plan ahead by setting a reminder for when it’s due to renew. If you can, turn off auto-renewal so you won’t be charged automatically. It’s also a good idea to check your subscriptions regularly and cancel any you don’t use anymore.
Finally, while it may be tempting to sign up to a newsletter to get a discount, make sure you’re not sharing more personal information than you’re comfortable with.
By learning to recognise these sinister dark patterns, you are empowered to shop online with confidence and protect your budget, privacy, and consumer rights.
Share these tips with your family and friends to help everyone become a savvy consumer.
