Majority of sites and apps use dark patterns in the marketing of subscriptions
Dark design tricks in online subscription sign‑ups and cancellations are so widespread that many users now assume most services will try to trap them into paying more or longer than they intend. Commenters link these “dark patterns” to broader US and global business incentives that reward deceptive pricing, hidden fees, and obstructive cancellation flows, while noting that a minority of companies and some jurisdictions (e.g., parts of the EU, certain US states) do better. Many argue for stronger regulation—such as mandatory easy cancellation and clear price labeling—and share personal defenses like virtual cards, app‑store managed subscriptions, and boycotting services that rely on manipulative tactics.
Pervasiveness and Normalization
- Many commenters are unsurprised: dark patterns feel ubiquitous in subscription marketing and web UX generally.
- Some argue this normalization is itself disturbing; “everyone does it” attitudes are seen as enabling bad actors.
- Others note a non-trivial minority of services in the report showed no dark patterns and should be rewarded with business.
Ethics, Responsibility, and Systemic Incentives
- Strong moral language is used: practices are compared to lying, theft, and coercion.
- Debate whether “companies” are the enemy vs. the socioeconomic system that rewards deceptive behavior.
- Individual employees are seen as rationalizing participation (“just doing my job,” “pressure to grow revenue”).
Definitions and Types of Dark Patterns
- OECD categories cited: forced action, interface interference, nagging, obstruction, sneaking, social proof, urgency.
- Disagreement on whether social proof and scarcity are inherently “dark” vs. normal marketing that only becomes dark when deceptive or faked.
- Examples: multi-step cancellation flows, upsell interstitials, fake urgency counters, biased testimonials.
Regional Pricing and Hidden Fees
- Extensive comparison of U.S. practices (prices without tax, tipping, junk fees, “service charges”) vs. Europe/Australia where tax-inclusive pricing is common.
- Some Europeans describe U.S. retail and restaurant pricing as feeling like systemic fraud; others say locals are simply used to not knowing the final price.
- Airlines, ISPs, and landlords in multiple regions are cited for add-on fees and obscured costs.
User Coping Strategies
- Tactics include:
- Using Apple/Google app stores for centralized subscription control.
- Virtual or single-merchant cards and low-balance accounts to limit exposure.
- Avoiding any service not cancellable via trusted intermediaries.
- Meticulous monitoring of credit card statements and banking tools.
Regulation and Legal Ideas
- Calls for laws like “two-click unsubscribe” and “cancellation must be as easy as signup.”
- Mention of existing rules in California and EU, but enforcement is seen as weak and penalties too low.
- Proposals include mandatory standardized subscription labels (price, auto-renewal, cancellation method/fees) and significant statutory damages per improper charge.
Subscriptions: Value vs. Abuse
- Many express deep distrust of subscriptions due to forgotten charges, accidental billing, and hard-to-cancel flows.
- Others defend subscriptions as appropriate for ongoing services (email, SaaS, MMOs, streaming), arguing they beat ads and microtransactions.
- Some cite “ethical” models (e.g., non-auto-renewing, easy cancellation, or “keep last version” software) but note these may lose revenue to more aggressive competitors.
Direct Mail and Offline Dark Patterns
- Physical junk mail uses similar tricks: urgent-looking envelopes, misleading branding (e.g., mortgage or government lookalikes), tiny disclaimers.
- Environmental and psychological costs of this constant low-level deception are highlighted.