Designing Morally: Expert Guidance from Guthrie Weinschenk
In the realm of digital applications, a behavioural economist and COO of The Team W, Inc., Guthrie Weinschenk, is on a mission to expose and eradicate unethical design patterns that exploit users' psychological biases and behaviours. These patterns, often referred to as 'dark patterns', are not only misleading but also manipulative, leading users to act against their best interests or without fully informed consent.
Weinschenk, the author of the book "I Love You, Now Read This Book" and host of the podcast Human Tech, has identified several common dark patterns. One such pattern is the 'Roach Motel', where processes are designed to make it easy for users to get into a situation, such as subscribing or signing up, but difficult to get out of, like cancelling or unsubscribing.
Another example is 'Sneaking', where products or services are added to the user’s cart or agreement without explicit consent, often through pre-checked boxes or unclear language. 'Trick Questions', using confusing language or questions that trick users into giving consent or making choices they wouldn't have otherwise made, are also among the dark patterns Weinschenk has highlighted.
Other unethical design patterns include 'Forced Continuity', where after a free trial or promotion ends, users are automatically charged without clear, timely reminders or an easy cancellation path. 'Privacy Zuckering', named after Mark Zuckerberg, involves tricking users into sharing more personal information than they intend to. 'Bait and Switch', promising one outcome or benefit but delivering another, typically less desirable option once users are committed, is another dark pattern. Lastly, 'Confirmshaming' guilt-trips users into opting into something by wording decline options in a shaming or emotionally manipulative way.
Weinschenk's team worked to promote a mindset throughout the organization, encouraging the belief that less risk equals less lost money. They designed audits both on paper and in person to assess and reduce risk. In dealing with unethical business decisions, Weinschenk advises expressing concerns, making an ROI argument, and working to soften the worst effects.
As AI continues to evolve, Weinschenk expresses concern about it becoming perfect at tailoring stimulation for each individual. However, he finds hope in the general public's recognition and dislike of unethical patterns and behaviours in design. Weinschenk suggests creating structures within organizations to argue against unethical behaviour, similar to how LGBTQ+ organizations have supported and normalized their community within companies.
Weinschenk is offering a Master Class, Ethics in Design: A Practical Guide, where he will teach attendees how to evaluate their work from an ethical perspective and avoid unethical design practices. As the role of ethics in UX design may evolve significantly in the next 5-10 years, it is crucial that professionals stay informed and vigilant in maintaining ethical standards in their work.
In the context of AI's evolution, Guthrie Weinschenk expresses concerns about it potentially perfecting individualized stimulation, which could potentially lead to the integration of artificial-intelligence in unethical UX design practices. On the other hand, Weinschenk finds encouragement in the general public's growing recognition and dislike of such unethical design patterns, advocating for the creation of organizational structures to argue against such practices, similar to how LGBTQ+ organizations had done in the past, thus promoting ethical UX design with the help of technology.
