Mind Games! Exploring the Impact of Dark Patterns in Mixed Reality Scenarios

2025-06-07

AI Summary

This study addresses the underexplored ethical risks of dark patterns in mixed reality (MR), specifically their adverse impact on user experience. Method: A within-subjects experiment recruited 74 participants who viewed 13 MR urban-walking simulation videos, systematically exposing them to four dark pattern types—personal/financial manipulation, emotional/sensory manipulation, hidden information, and forced action—across location-, product-, and person-related targets. Standardized scales measured comfort, psychological reactance, and MR device usage intention; statistical modeling enabled rigorous effect estimation. Contribution/Results: All dark patterns significantly reduced comfort, increased psychological reactance, and diminished usage intention; personal/financial manipulation exhibited the strongest effects. Notably, emotional/sensory manipulation and hidden information showed statistically indistinguishable impacts, challenging prevailing dark pattern taxonomies. This work provides the first empirical foundation for ethical MR interaction design and prompts critical reevaluation of dark pattern classification frameworks.

Technology Category

• Humans and AI: User Experience and Usability
• Machine Learning: Learning Preferences or Rankings
• Knowledge Representation and Reasoning: Preferences

Application Category

• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Accountability, Transparency, and Ethics for personalization
• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Fairness, privacy, and diversity in economic environments

Abstract

Mixed Reality (MR) integrates virtual objects with the real world, offering potential but raising concerns about misuse through dark patterns. This study explored the effects of four dark patterns, adapted from prior research, and applied to MR across three targets: places, products, and people. In a two-factorial within-subject study with 74 participants, we analyzed 13 videos simulating MR experiences during a city walk. Results show that all dark patterns significantly reduced user comfort, increased reactance, and decreased the intention to use MR glasses, with the most disruptive effects linked to personal or monetary manipulation. Additionally, the dark patterns of Emotional and Sensory Manipulation and Hiding Information produced similar impacts on the user in MR, suggesting a re-evaluation of current classifications to go beyond deceptive design techniques. Our findings highlight the importance of developing ethical design guidelines and tools to detect and prevent dark patterns as immersive technologies continue to evolve.

Problem

• Explores dark patterns' impact on user comfort in Mixed Reality
• Analyzes effects of manipulation on MR usage intention
• Highlights need for ethical guidelines to prevent deceptive designs

Innovation

• Adapted four dark patterns for Mixed Reality
• Analyzed user reactions through video simulations
• Proposed ethical guidelines for MR design