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Trivializing Values with Dark Patterns : An ethical analysis of the use of Dark Patterns by social media platforms and their effect on personal and societal values

Hankel, Zachary (2024) Trivializing Values with Dark Patterns : An ethical analysis of the use of Dark Patterns by social media platforms and their effect on personal and societal values.

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Abstract:In this thesis I argue that social media platforms, through the use of manipulative software interfaces known as ‘Dark Patterns’, have the potential to interfere with an end user’s ability to live by their values. Moreover, this thesis argues that, to the extent that Dark Patterns do interfere in this way, there is a further potential for these interfaces to interfere with society’s ability to collaborate on the collective pursuit of goodness. Dark Patterns are understood to be digital interfaces which, by virtue of their design, influence an end user of some software into making online choices that are not necessarily in their best interest (Gray et al., 2018). A major aim of a given platform is to capture and keep a user’s attention so that they might turn that attention into behaviors which commercially benefit the platform. This thesis argues that platforms are quite successful in achieving this aim in part through the use of Dark Patterns. This process may simultaneously promote the platform’s values while also undermining their users’ values. This likely happens to the extent that Dark Patterns are systemically used which is argued to be significantly so.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:08 philosophy, 58 process technology, 77 psychology
Programme:Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society MSc (60024)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/102972
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