DARK PATTERNS IN DIGITAL INTERFACES: A CRITICAL REVIEW OF TYPOLOGIES, IMPACTS, AND ETHICAL-LEGAL REGULATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63330/aurumpub.019-006Keywords:
Dark Patterns, Manipulative Design, Digital Ethics, User Behavior, Interface RegulationAbstract
This article presents an integrative literature review on dark patterns in digital interfaces, aiming to synthesize key concepts, typologies, behavioral effects, and ethical-legal implications. The study adopts a qualitative and analytical approach, based on academic and regulatory sources published between 2010 and 2025. Findings demonstrate that dark patterns exploit users’ cognitive and emotional vulnerabilities, undermining decision-making autonomy and violating principles of transparency and informed consent. The review identifies a wide range of manipulative strategies, including obstruction, inducement, and emotional coercion, with significant impact on user experience. A comparative analysis of international regulations highlights normative progress, although conceptual gaps and enforcement challenges remain. The study contributes to the theoretical advancement of the field and proposes future research directions focused on ethical design, adaptive regulation, and the protection of informational self-determination.
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