I almost clicked it too. There has to be a better way than having to be constantly vigilant against being duped into “consenting” to be spied upon. The internet doesn’t have to suck like this.

  • Eager Eagle@lemmy.worldEnglish
    9·
    17 hours ago

    fuck; I’m so used to dark patterns like these that whenever I read “cookie” my instincts flip and look for the less noticeable / most hidden buttons instead. It took me a few seconds to even realize this was a dark pattern.

    Other common ones to be on the lookout:

    • Filled out buttons that favor the company, while outlined buttons (or even just links) that favor the user;
    • Toggles phrased as negatives, so “enabling” looks like “disabling” and vice-versa;
    • Wording to disguise user intent: “Confirm choices” or “Save preferences” instead of “Reject cookies”, like above;
    • Sneaking in optional checkboxes among mandatory ones at the end of a form;
    • Small and low contrast elements to minimize important information that favors the user;
    • Emotional manipulation: “this offer expires in X minutes”; “only Y left”.
    • queerlilhayseed@piefed.blahaj.zoneOPEnglish
      5·
      17 hours ago

      I deeply resent how much of my brain is occupied with sidestepping sneaky bullshit like this. It’s gotten to the point where I generally don’t use a website if I can’t use it without going through their dark patterns permissions labyrinth. I only put up with going through this one because I was researching turtles and there’s a paper cited on Wikipedia I just cannot find.