Almost all top Indian apps deploy deceptive design practices: Study
PTI, Aug 2, 2024, 9:05 AM IST
Mumbai: Almost all the top Indian apps are deploying deceptive design practices which impact user autonomy and informed decision-making by users, a study released on Thursday said.
The study by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) found that 52 of the top 53 apps have deceptive UI (user interface)/UX (user experience) practices that can mislead or trick users into doing something they originally did not intend or want to do.
Executed in collaboration with design firm Parallel HQ, the study said that these problematic apps have been downloaded 21 billion times and flagged the impact on consumer behaviour because of such practices.
The deceptive patterns discovered include privacy deception, interface interference, drip pricing, and false urgency, an official statement issued by the advertising industry’s self-regulatory body said.
Privacy deception emerged as the most prevalent deceptive pattern, observed in 79 per cent of the apps analysed, followed by interface interference (45 per cent), drip pricing (43 per cent), and false urgency (32 per cent).
Elaborating with examples, the study said all the e-commerce apps studied made it difficult for users to delete their accounts, while a bulk four of the five health-tech apps relied on creating time-based pressure or a false urgency to rush users into making decisions.
Health-tech led the list of sectors where deceptive patterns are the highest, followed by travel booking and e-commerce, as per the study. Interestingly, the deceptive patterns per app were lowest in gaming and streaming services.
“Deceptive patterns harm consumer trust and transparency in the digital ecosystem. We urge organisations to follow conscious design principles that protect the consumer’s right to make an informed choice,” ASCI’s secretary general and chief executive Manisha Kapoor said.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Karnataka to introduce comprehensive state space policy: Minister Priyank Kharge
Soil from far side of Moon brought by Chinese probe has ‘distinct characteristics’ compared to other lunar samples: Study
Chatting with ChatGPT found to soften beliefs of conspiracy theorists
India successfully test fires two Surface to Air Missiles in 2 days from Odisha
IIT-Delhi sets up 6-member committee to look into bus fire incidents in state-run buses
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
One more test negative for Nipah virus; 134 fall under high-risk category
Bengaluru suffering from apathy of state govt; investors moving away: Goyal
Raid at Mangalore Port: Two child laborers rescued
Court grants conditional bail to BJP MLA Munirathna
Why PM ‘adamantly refusing’ to go to Manipur: Cong ahead of Modi’s US trip
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.