A study on dark patterns in user interface designs and user experiences

This study aims to examine the impact of dark patterns, designed using cognitive biases and persuasive technologies, on users' attitudes and behaviors. To achieve this objective, the formation process of dark patterns, starting from the physical and structural transformations in graphic user interface designs, has been thoroughly examined. In this context, the evolution of graphic design under contemporary conditions, including its multidimensionality, interaction with new specialty areas such as UX (User Experience) and UI (User Interface), its relationship with artificial intelligence technology, and its integration with multimedia tools such as video, 3D, and audio, as well as concepts like eco-design and sustainable design, have been analyzed. Subsequently, the integration of graphic design beyond merely being a communication tool and its application in disciplines such as marketing, finance, and psychology has been addressed. Furthermore, this research has been initiated in the context of the manipulative power of media and advertising, the Post-Truth era, and the relationship between design and these phenomena. The definition of good and successful designs in the advertising sector, the universal standards of such designs, and how these standards vary among different parties have been scrutinized. The investigation concludes by exploring the ethical framework of persuasion, which is a key attribute of good design, and identifying persuasive designs that exceed these ethical boundaries. These designs have been examined through the lens of universal ethical principles, focusing on the extent to which users are exposed to dark pattern techniques that manipulate their rational decision-making. Consequently, data has been quantitatively obtained regarding which types of dark patterns users encounter in the literature, the frequency of these encounters, whether these dark patterns affect consumer decisions, the extent to which users believe in the authenticity of these dark patterns, and the relationship between demographic characteristics and dark patterns. Designed as a descriptive study, this research employs a survey as its data collection method. An online survey created on Surveymonkey.com was distributed to universities in different regions of Turkey, collecting responses from 405 participants, predominantly comprising academics, civil servants, and students. The survey form was prepared by incorporating examples of dark pattern types commonly identified and frequently used in the literature. According to the findings, nearly all participants reported encountering dark patterns on various platforms. Predominantly, these encounters occurred on web pages and mobile applications, but participants also experienced dark patterns on gaming consoles, television, newspapers, store displays, and printed publications. The participants' opinions on the accuracy of the information presented in dark patterns were evaluated, revealing a general tendency towards uncertainty regarding the truthfulness of the provided information. The subsequent tendencies were either disbelief or belief in the information's accuracy. When evaluating the influence of dark patterns on participants' decision-making, it was found that most participants' decisions were affected by these patterns. In this context, the necessity of raising awareness among users about dark patterns, which is the core issue addressed by this study, has been supported by quantitative findings from the research. Keywords: Graphic design, user interface and experience design, persuasive technologies, cognitive biases, behavioral economics, dark patterns.